'PDA Govt adding extra-ordinary burden to public'

Kohima, 30th April 2020

PRESS COMMUNIQUE

The Naga People’s Front is confounded by the decision of the PDA Government to levy the so-called “Covid-19 Cess” at the exorbitant rate of Rs. 5 on diesel per litre and Rs. 6 on Petrol and other Motor Spirits per litre.

At this particular period when the public, particularly the daily-wage earning of urban/rural people, is increasingly dependent on relief schemes and charity for daily subsistence, the PDA Government is adding extra-ordinary burden to the public.

As understood by a layman, a Cess is a tax on tax, an amount payable on the tax amount. However, it is painfully understood by the public that any increase in any form of tax is ultimately paid for by the consumers and not by the dealers, who happily recover the taxed amount many times over by raising the retail cost of the product.

In the case of a tax on petroleum products, the tax levied is paid by the public over a hundredfold because of the increase in cost of any produce that requires even the least bit of transportation.

Therefore, the “Covid-19 Cess” directly abets the increase in the price of essential commodities by the Government of Nagaland which is an additional and inhuman burden on the Naga public. Moreover, it is also insulting when the public is aware that International oil prices have been at an all-time low since 1991 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, around 300% decline.

Therefore, the NPF party demanded immediate roll-back of its decision to levy unimaginable tax on the petroleum products.

Otherwise, this is nothing but daylight robbery on the part of the present PDA Government which cannot be tolerated. It also appears that the Government of the day is trying to recover immediately the little pinch of free ration given to few daily wage earners in the name of lockdown.

The Government may seek justification, citing the preparatory cost being incurred by the state due to the pandemic. But the Naga Public must not be taken for a ride yet again by technical explanations and smooth abstract rhetoric.

The Preparatory period is over. Sufficient amount of money have poured into the state coffers for this very purpose. If Nagaland state is still not prepared yet, no amount of money will suffice.

After more than a month of lock-down, every citizen is feeling the pinch, albeit some more than others. It is high time for the government of the day to formulate and implement policies that will relieve the public, even to the extent of subsidizing essential goods to the unemployed, the private-sector employees and the daily wage-earners instead of merely feeding a few of them for a few days, many of whom are dependent on the charity of NGO’s, Churches or some benefactors.

Time and again, the NPF party has urged upon the present PDA Government to check the price rise in the state for the sake of the poor public. However, instead of paying attention to the pleas of the public, the Government turned a deaf ear upon the demand of the people, which ultimately resulted in sky-rocketing prices of every essential commodity, adding more fuel to the suffering public.

The Naga public never expected the present Government to turn into such a callous, merciless, heartless attitude when its people are suffering and under traumatic situation not only for the pandemic Covid-19 but also due to its day to day self subsistence.

Therefore, taking all these into account, the NPF reiterates that the longer this Government holds the reigns of power in the state the more the common people will suffer.

Issued by:
Press Bureau,
Naga People’s Front,
Central Headquarters,
Kohima: Nagaland.