Asks ACAUT to check corruption first
DIMAPUR, JUNE 13 (MExN): The GPRN/NSCN has shared some of its insights on the taxation issue during a meeting with Dimapur based civil society today at Camp Khehoi where it raised some points.
According to a press note from the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), the GPRN/NSCN agreed to discuss the issue of multiple taxation within the organisation if people are dissatisfied with it but denied having anything to do with “dealership and syndicates.” Instead they levied the charge that syndicates are first and foremost formed by business community itself to exclude business rivals and Naga groups are only utilized as muscles or “dadas” to protect the former. In short, Naga groups are not responsible for formation of syndicates, they defended.
The group also said that Naga groups are being “victimized” by the people when the burden of taxation is being applied by other forces too, asking the civil society to first check corruption in society.
Putting civil society initiative against taxation on a backfoot, the ACAUT press note stated that Jack Zhimomi, Chaplee Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN asserted that unless the Naga Council led Action Committee convinces NSCN-IM to drop the dealership system, GPRN/NSCN too will start the same system.
Jack Zhimomi also pointed out that taxation by all the Naga factions on government contract works hardly comprises a total of 3% while Azheto Chophy, Kilo Kilonser accused the State government including ministers, bureaucrats to the level of peons of deducting more than 40% of the amount sanctioned for work.
They also lamented that every section of Naga society is in one way or the other involved in tax collection, including the numerous “welfare unions” in Dimapur giving rise to “ultra hyper capitalism” wherein people lose complete control of pricing. “The Naga groups alone cannot take all the blame for this,” Jack Zhimomi said.
Zhimomi also alleged that the inflation of prices of commodities by the business community goes unchecked by the district administration, as well as in connivance with them as all prices are fixed with the DC’s permission. He cited the example of cement, which gets taxed at Rs. 25,50,000 per consignment, apart from its purchase cost and train fare right from the railway station to its destination. Only an approximate fifth of this goes to the national groups while the rest goes to the State, other assorted unions as well as some local mafia.
However, according to the press note, they asserted that “NSCN (IM) is the mother of all taxations,” the application of which it allegedly learnt from municipal bodies.
Some of the GPRN/NSCN members asserted that the issue of Naga struggle and its settlement with Government of India (GOI) should take precedence over the unabated taxation cry taken up by Naga civil society. They justified this stance basing on sacrifices and struggles over the years.
The meeting was attended by Azheto Chophy, Kilo Kilonser, Jack Zhimomi, Chaplee Kilonser, Kilonser Singson, Kilonser Hojei Swu and chaired by G. Zhimomi, Home Secretary, GPRN/NSCN. Over 20 members led by Naga Council attended the meeting.
