DIMAPUR, MAY 29 (MExN): The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) today clarified on their ‘tax resolutions’ by stating that businesses should pay taxes to all Naga factions but only once. The NCD held a press conference at its office today after confusion ensued among the public about the tax control mechanism NCD is trying to bring into effect.
“Currently, businesspersons are paying multiple taxes to each of the five groups—once at the check-gate, then at their shops, again at their godowns and so on—this must stop,” said Ntsemo Ngullie, Convenor of the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation, which was constituted by the NCD to tackle the issue of taxation by Naga groups as well as government agencies. “Not just that, taxes have to be paid multiple times for goods entering Nagaland to government agencies too. Taxes should be collected at any one point, not several points for the same goods. Its imposition should not over burden and harass the public,” stated Ngullie.
He clarified that businesses should continue to pay taxes to the five Naga groups, as well as the government agencies, but only once at only one collection point. As for other citizens, only one (yearly) tax should be paid to each of the groups, he said.
“We are not against taxation imposed by the Naga national groups. We have a peculiar history, and until there is an honourable and respectable political settlement, we request the groups to streamline their tax collection system,” aired Ngullie.
The taxation scheme has been marred, according to the NCD, by various “anti social” elements who extort money from businesses in the name of the “underground”. The NCD wants the “higher-ups” to check their cadre and others through a systematic approach.
Moreover, “there are some middle men operating between the groups and the businesses who are siphoning money off,” held T Bangerloba, President of the NCD. “There should be direct dealing between the groups and the people,” he highlighted. He also said that a dealership system has entered the market wherein certain dealers are monopolizing sectors leading to price escalation. These dealers, the NCD alleged, operate under the aegis of the Naga groups, and thus become a syndicate under their armed protection. Market value of goods is then fixed and controlled by them. The example of poultry business was cited. Government agencies, like the Dimapur Municipal Council, and others should also play an active role to keep such activities under check, the NCD stated.
The NCD plans to discuss these issues with the “collective leadership”, as well as present them with a memorandum on the issue, in the first week of June. An earlier statement from the Council has requested people not to pay any tax to the Naga groups till this meeting has been held.
According to data given by the NCD, business persons in Dimapur have to pay taxes 15-17 times in a year, apart from the material donations that are asked to be made from “time to time” to the Naga groups. A small business in Dimapur pays at least Rs. 60-70,000 in taxes per year.
“There is no freedom of speech here, and we’re always under threat,” complained Khegholi Aomi, who runs an electronics shop in Dimapur, and also represented the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at the press conference. “These boys have come into my shop with grenades at times, or they just steal things from the shop. Other times, they take things on credit and never pay up. Anyone comes in and asks for a big sum, and if we refuse to pay, they threaten us,” she said. There is no way to tell the genuine tax collectors from imposters, presenting an added dimension to the problem. If the “collective leadership” does not agree to their demands, she expressed that businesses might have to shut shop in Dimapur.
