DIMAPUR, JUNE 5 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Association (NVCO) has expressed shock at the appeal made by some of the major Dimapur frontal organisations to partially reconsider the “blanket ban on tax levied by Dimapur Municipal Council(DMC).”
A press release from the NVCO said that “instead of appealing for partial reconsideration of the blanket ban on tax levied by DMC, the Dimapur denizen must come out much more stronger to support the said government blanket order keeping in mind in the past for how many occasions various transport unions/associations called chakkajhum/strike not to enter Dimapur due so much of illegal tax/cash collection.” It also noted that there were many occasions when drivers and handymen were assaulted just for not paying their demands.
“There are several cash collections in the heart of Dimapur town especially nearby train station without any pay-counter in the name of this and that association/unions, council, etc especially upon auto drivers, etc. The denizen of the state must not forget that Dimapur is the commercial hub and gateway to Nagaland when it comes to bringing both essential and non-essential commodities, building material, etc, from outside the state,” it noted.
Market price of other district headquarters is determined from Dimapur performances, the NVCO said, while adding that there are many genuine reasons ‘not’ to reconsider DMC tax. It urged the State Government not to reconsider the said blanket order in any circumstances. It said that doing so would “paralyse all other districts; demoralise the so called District Inspection Team; violate the state government earlier standing order; and amounts to contempt of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench’s order.”
“We are all aware that several associations/various groups/unions/organisations besides police at check-gates and Municipal/Town Councils are all anxiously looking for reconsideration on tax or illegal collection of cash like ‘vulture’ as these illegal tax/cash collections has been practiced for the last several decades,” the NVCO said.
It said it has been encouraging to see reportsof people being arrested for indulging in illegal cash collection. The NVCO said this culture must continue not only on highways and check-gates but also in public sectors especially public funds where several practices of corruption must be stopped.
The NVCO urged the civil societies/tribal hohos/churches/students/youth/women organisations/associations, business community etc to remain strong “so as not to allow the State Government to reconsider with any case in order to bring completely an ‘end’ to the menace of illegal taxation/cash collection in Nagaland.”
