Kohima, April 28 (MExN): ACAUT Nagaland convenor (Legal Cell) Kezhokhoto Savi on April 27 asserted that ACAUT Nagaland is committed to the truth; “the truth that unabated taxation is corruption; that unabated taxation is the cause of factionalism and that factionalism is the reason why Indo-Naga solution eludes us even after 60 years of armed struggle.” Addressing the Southern Angami Baptist leaders (men’s department) during the two-day Japfuphiki Baptist Thepfuko annual meeting held at Kidima Baptist Church from April 26 -27, Savi stated that as long as the Naga National Movement remains unresolved, there will be no real peace in Nagaland.
In his speech, which was released to the media, Savi assured that Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland will continue to fight unabated taxations/corruption committed by both Naga political groups and established governments. In this regard, he urged the congregation consisting leaders from 14 churches of different villages, to take the “One Government, One Tax” resolution made during the public rally held in Dimapur on October 31, 2013, to their respective village councils for support and strict implementation. The “One Government, One Tax” is the single-minded motive of ushering reconciliation, peace and prosperity in our land, he added.
Savi told the congregation that ACAUT Nagaland is people’s movement to stand for the truth, stating “our fight against corruption is solely for public interest and to protect individual from illegal collection of cash and illegal taxation.” The fight against corruption, he said, includes “the misuse of public funds meant for infrastructure developmental works, deduction of high percentages from project money/contractors’ bill by way of ‘commission’, deduction of government employees’ certain percentages of their monthly salaries, collecting cash on highways/check-gates by Nagaland Police/public organization/federation/govt departments, municipal/town councils collecting toll tax on highways without providing any services to the tax payers, fund-raise by way of requesting donation/ selling lottery tickets/ calendar/ newspaper/ home delivery food & buffet ticket at exorbitant rates, etc.”
He also reminded the citizens about the Government of Nagaland’s standing order vide dated 22.06.2009 which clearly stated that no collection of cash will be allowed in check-gates or in any highway by any organization or individual, government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments, etc. As a citizen of the state capital, Savi expressed his happiness “for the strong wave of ACAUT Nagaland coming up in Kohima which is the heart and soul of the state of Nagaland.” He cited that the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) expressed its strong support and commitment for the cause of public welfare in a joint meeting with ACAUT Nagaland at APO building on April 26, 2014 after getting endorsement from Angami Public Organization. On behalf of ACAUT Nagaland, Savi further called upon all the civil societies in Kohima to join hands in the endeavor to put an end to the menace prevailing in “our” society. “Today, let us all stand up together and fight against these illegal practices and unabated taxation in our land so that none of us would be blamed by our children or generation in future,” he added.
