Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 13
Citizens of Chumukedima have decided to expel any businessman or shopkeeper within Chumukedima jurisdiction who pays “tax” on the sly to Naga political groups.
The resolution was unanimously adopted by hundreds of citizens at a general public meeting of the Chumukedima area, convened by the Chumukedima Chamber of Commerce & Trade Association (CCCTA) at Chumukedima Weekly Market on Thursday.
The public also reiterated the resolutions adopted at the October 31, 2013, public rally, under the aegis of Action Committee against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT).
The first resolution of the October 31 public rally reads, “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.”
Co Convener of the ACAUT, Joel Nillo, in his introductory speech, said that the public should fully support the “one government, one tax” declaration, in order to do away with unabated taxation. He then urged the Nagaland state government to recognize the pulse of the people and initiate remedial measures to mitigate the sufferings of the people. Nillo further informed that the ACAUT would spread to all districts and become a state-wide movement.
Former bureaucrat, Khekiye K Sema pointed out that unless Naga political groups unite and form one “government”, the public cannot continue to pay tax to the different groups. Reminding the gathering that the Naga political movement started with the objective that Nagas would not pay tax to others, Khekiye however rued that presently, Naga political factions have abandoned the said objective by imposing multiple taxation on their own people. He added that by paying tax to the different groups, the public was encouraging formation of more groups.
Representatives from the Business Association of Nagas, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Naga Blog, Chakroma Public Organization, Chumukedima Mothers’ Association and others also pledged their full support to the ACAUT resolutions. President of the CCCTA, Avi Chase, chaired the public meeting.
