Dimapur rally against UG taxation
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Dimapur, October 31 2013: Large number of people turned out today to join the rally in Dimapur which was organised against the illegal tax imposed on the people by underground groups and government agencies.

Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) under the aegis of Naga Council, Dimapur organised the rally where thousands of people participated it.

"The ACAUT under the aegis of Naga Council is gratified at the mammoth turnout of Naga public at the awareness rally held at Clock Tower, Dimapur today and it stands vindicated in the light of strong solidarity shown by the public on the stand taken by the ACAUT," said the Committee.

It then claims that almost 40,000 people turned out to air their anguish against unabated taxation and illegal collections by Naga underground groups and government agencies/departments is a very strong testament that Nagas emphatically reject the present state of affairs and strongly desire change, ACAUT stated after the rally.

Meanwhile, under the umbrella of "People's Power", a 3-point resolution was passed during during the rally which is legitimate, true and binding on the state government and NPGs both, according to ACAUT.

Dimapur rally against UG taxation

The first resolution is that the Naga public recognizes "One Government One Taxation" only and the Naga public has decided to pay only one tax to one entity.

This also means that as long as factionalism exists, the Naga public shall not pay tax.

The second resolution has been that the Naga public re-affirms its support for Naga movement and strongly urges the Government of India to settle the Indo-Naga imbroglio at the earliest while the third and the final resolution says the Government of Nagaland should constitute a high powered committee within 15 days to study the whole gamut of unabated taxations and illegal collections involving the NPGs and government agencies/departments.

The committee shall consist of atleast five members headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court with atleast two members from the ACAUT.

The committee should submit its report within two months with its findings published in all the newspapers.

In the event, the govt fails to constitute the committee within the said period, the ACAUT will initiate further action in consultation with public, the Committee added.

It can be mentioned here that ACAUT was formed early this year to check the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people esprecially the business community by various organisations particularly the Naga underground outfits.

It can also be be noted here that ACAUT had called Dimapur bandh against the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people by various outfits.

The ACAUT had said the bandh was just a pointer of things to come unless concerned organisations and authorities accede to our demands or put mechanisms in place to curb unabated taxation and ultimately price rise, namely, dealership and multiple taxations by underground organisations and price rise which is the prerogative of government to check.

The move was initiated unable to bear any longer on the rampant imposition of 'taxes' on the business community and also on the general public.

ACAUT wants that there should be only one tax payable to any one underground group.

ACAUT also stated earlier that the 'back-breaking' multiple taxes on goods imposed by underground groups should be abolished immediately.

'Irritants' such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc.

shall not be entertained anymore.

The ACAUT also wants that the yearly tax payable to different underground organisations should not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances and therefore, amount payable shall be the same as in 2012 .

The creation of the new system of 'dealership' by underground groups has been strongly condemned.

For instance, it was pointed out that under this latest innovation to milk businesses dry, there is only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry can be sold in the open market without the consent of this poultry dealer.

It can be noted here that the ACAUT had met the NSCN-IM, the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi and others on the issue.

ACAUT had also listed some other factors that cause to price rise which include DMC toll gates, police check gates, Deopani sand syndicate, Vegetable syndicate, Pan patta syndiacate, Cement and hardware syndicate, Fish and dry fish syndicate, Egg syndicate, Dry supari syndicate, Second hand clothes syndicate, Poultry product vendor union and Butcher vendor union.

The list is not exhaustive.

To tackle taxation on a wider scale ACAUT will further pursue to form a fact finding committee to study and compare price of commodities in Nagaland and Assam.

It will also meet the state chief minister and the governor and also submit representation to judiciary of Dimapur district.

The sale of all syndicate controlled poultry products including local chicken is henceforth banned throughout the state indefinitely, starting June 18.Anyone found selling poultry shall be doing so at their own risk.

This ban shall stay in force till the price comes down to an acceptable level on par with neighbouring Assam, according to ACAUT.