Some of those who voted Yes had this to say:
• What an idiot question! Of course, where do you think money comes from? State government pays money to the people for the work done for the state. People earn money coming from the state government. The state government is running the government. This is the most lame question I have ever heard of. Geesh!!!!!
• Free meal is a thing of the past!
• In doing so citizens will be more involved in the development of the state. It's high time we wake up and take active part in state affairs.
• In fact, we should be paying tax to the government. The only problem is that those government officials will use our taxes for their own personal developments.
• Stupid question.
• As difficult a question, I think Nagas should pay income tax to the state government. Only then the citizens of Nagaland will wake up from their slumber and see that the state government delivers. Right now Nagas are paying no tax to the state government, only to factions. So the people are unable to really pressurize the state government to perform. I think once Nagas start paying tax, the people can than check corruption and also see how the money is being spent. Right now, the state government is running of donations by the central government and people don’t even know how much.
• Yes hopefully to pre-empt corrupt hoarding of wealth. But for this the government should see that its citizens are not forced to pay taxes to more than 1 government.
• This is the duty of every citizen and at the same time ensure that illegal tax collection is eradicated from our society. The revenue thus generated can be utilized for the progress and development of the state.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• We should pay income tax only if taxation by other organizations can be stopped by the government. Otherwise, the government has no right to impose any tax when it cannot do its duty properly.
• Better give it to the beggars than paying to the Govt. The money is going to be misused once it comes in these hands.
• There is so much taxation already in the market. If Nagas start paying income taxes, then who will pay the undergrounds?
• There is so much tax collection from the other Govt that the Nagas are sick of seeing them. I wonder how many ways they can conjure up in the name of freedom fighting and collect from Nagas. I wish the whole system of their Govt be wiped out of this society. Now Nagas join the bandwagon just to sleep and eat. After all, they have some guns and pistols that can earn them money.
• Are you serious? There is no source of income for the Nagas except Govt. jobs. And if the taxations from the undergrounds is included, I guess there will be nothing left to pay.
• There is already an influx of taxations from the undergrounds. Why will the public pay back the small income they have to the Govt?
• If the Govt were to collect income taxes, then we Nagas will have nothing left for ourselves. Half of our income is paid to the many taxes being collected by different units and factions.
• State cannot be trusted with the public hard earned money. Paying of income tax will usher in more complications for the general public, in any case we are already paying several 'taxes' paying of income tax will be a further burden on the already heavy laden public. Unless there is a clear cut and committed plan on how the taxes should be spent it will be waste of public resources on some corrupt people
• The undergrounds are called the revenue collection faction now. All they do is think of a way how and what should be the reason just to collect taxes? Man, am afraid they will charge you even for shitting in your own bathroom. I won’t be surprise if this does happen, as they are already running out of reasons to collect.
• When the Govt cannot create avenues for the youth, if any one were to start his business on his own, what right will the Govt have to ask for income tax? The Govt should in fact help rather than collect taxes which is not theirs at all.
• The underground bosses have mansions to shame any wealthy man, cars that kill by look, power that can collect money at will. Just look around and we see these people shamelessly living in mansions and driving around freely in their best cars. If these people are all thinking of freedom, then why don’t they go underground and fight. They only want to live a king’s life without sweating it out. Shame on you undergrounds.
• Nowhere in this world will you see so many taxes collected for nothing. It has become a means of living for these undergrounds. All they do is collect and not sweat it out to earn.
• No thank you. Already the so called Naga freedom fighters are doing that job on their (GoI) behalf.
• Why should the people pay back to the Govt? There is no reason the public to pay income tax. It is for those whom revenue returns are circulated among the people of the state.
• Why in the world would Nagas be willing to pay income tax? Isn’t the tax collected by the undergrounds not enough for the trouble? Infact, I do not understand why the Govt is willing to pay the 24% of its employees pay annually to the undergrounds. This should stop and the public must stand affirm in condemning such rules. We Nagas cannot go on like this forever. These underground people have no rights to take our share of pay. I do not know where this money goes. Developing the undergrounds?
• Pakala hoishe naki. Aru Govt ke tax dile, public tu ki kabo? Itu, underground khaan nimite kiman tax katibo ho? Naga manu tu tax di thakina poisa khotom hoishe. Itia tu underground manu khaan he poisa Govt ke dibole uliashe.
• At a time when the public is overloaded with taxation payments to various organisations, and extortions by our greedy FREEDOM FIGHTERS...there's no way that we can afford to pay taxes to the govt.
• It’s becoming a habit for Nagas to earn their livelihood without having to do any work. They just have to collect taxes in the name of any damn association or union or factions. It’s an irony that we Nagas as a public have such a laidback attitude towards this present scenario. How many can we give, its not going to stop here. We must do something and very soon too. Our society is infested by the taxation bug and people are tired of paying it.
• What about the underground giants? Will they pay the Govt their income taxes? It’s the same people who have paid their taxes to these undergrounds that will be paying to the govt again. So I think the people will not be ready to pay again.
• When people can't even pay for the high price rate in essential goods, how can people survive if we pay the taxes? And will the people know how the Govt. will utilize the public money? Better not pay from the start, than to regret later.
• Never. The undergrounds will start asking for their share too, and the public will be the loser again.
• First ask the underground goons if they will take their share again or not. I’m sure they will be smacking their lips at the prospect of another collection.
• There is taxation everywhere. They don’t even exempt petty paan shops which is otherwise the only source of income. What right do they have to ask? It’s literally begging to meet their ends. I pity the small time business which have to cough out more than they earn just because they are scared they will be abducted and killed for a small share.
• The Govt shouldn’t even think of collecting income tax. The people of Nagaland are suffering so much. We cannot even open a small business because these shameless undergrounds will come collecting their share as if it’s their father's property.
• Because this income tax goes to the Indian government and we are not Indians.
• Not in this lifetime. Let the children of our underground people pay what their fathers have collected forcefully from the Nagas in this lifetime. At least our children need not pay to the undergrounds because one day these people will die extorting.
• I just wish that one day, we get the chance to give to those in need rather than giving it to the monsters in disguise fighting for motherland.
• The Govt should do something about the underground taxation and not think of collecting income tax from Nagas. Who are we fooling man! Our brothers in the undergrounds should realise how much it hurts to give away their hard earn money to these collectors.
• Will the undergrounds too pay the income taxes? Just imagine how much more will they start collecting from the public for their share of income tax to the Govt. In the end, it is the public that will suffer. These people have no shame to collect from others.
• Are you joking? If we start paying income tax to the state government then what will be left of our salaries? I mean we already pay tax to our ‘brothers in arm.’ Not for getting the money we pay to get jobs, loans…to get things done. Don’t you know about the corruption prevalent among the Nagas? If we pay tax to the state government does any one seriously think that it will be used for the development of the Nagas as a whole? Wishful thinking. Whatever the case, corruption always plays spoilsport.
Some of those who voted Others had this to say:
• We as Christians give our tithes to church every payday. When God asks only one-tenth our underground comrades are asking shamelessly 24%. Imagine for a 4th grade employee, he has to give his share of tithes as well as to these undergrounds. What will be left of his meager salary? Our undergrounds should review this soon. Do not let a common man suffer because of your selfishness and greediness. Even God asks half of what you need. At least fear God, because you are not going to be ashamed of Naga people. You will be judged in the end by GOD.
• How many taxes will Nagas pay? The revenue of the state is lesser than the taxes collected by so many units. It something to ponder about! The total amount of taxes collected each year is staggering. It is joked around that the undergrounds will ask the people to pay taxes to sleep with your own wife. Isn’t is an irony our comrades find out the ways and means to collect taxes for every possible reason.
• Yes, if no corruption on the govt.'s part, otherwise a big NO.
• At the rate of tax collection by the undergrounds, a time will come when we will be paying tax even to eat food. Why can't these idiots do something rather than collect taxes just for nothing.
• The undergrounds should give their word that they will not collect anymore. Then only will the people pay taxes to the Govt.
• Nagas!! Wake up and rebel against taxation by the factions. We cannot pay for all these factions anymore. In the name of freedom fighting these people have built mansions and palaces with our money only. We will be fools if we were to repeat the mistake again and again. Cease fire meant freedom to collect taxes for their survival. Aren’t the undergrounds remain underground? They have made a fortune and now live overground in a free manner and that too after extorting our money. SHAME on FACTIONS.
• Arrest those who are collecting taxes in the name of factions. Enough is enough.
• If you look around, we see so many big mansions and lands belonging to underground people. Wonder...from where is the cash flowing in? Aren’t these people supposed to be fighting for Naga freedom? Why then, we see all these self made bosses living like kings in big palaces. If they want freedom, then they shouldn’t be extorting for their own survival.
• If you don’t get any job or have any business, then join any of these factions and live wealthy. All you need is a gun. Threaten your brothers and extort as much as you can.
• It is indeed funny to see how taxations and extortion are being bargained in Nagaland. Nobody has seen anywhere in the world how taxes are negotiated between the two parties. Is it not funny that these people will ask for astronomical figures but will settle for less? If these go on like this, then we Nagas will land up in deep shit. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE IN NAGALAND. TAXES ARE BARGAINED....
• We see taxations being issued via letters from the factions. Then they will negotiate with the party and settle down for more than half of what was asked. Why no, after all it is just another pocket money for them. And hey, these are the people fighting for our freedom (from whom)????
• It is a known fact that the underground people are notorious for tax collection for any damn reason. They survey the whole town and plan out how much they are going to charge. Just starting a small business means having to depart with the share of undergrounds, as if they are financing the person. The height is that even before the business is started, they will start coming with taxation slips. What kind of people are these? Ignorant fools. They just want to eat without working.
• A business man once said he was opening a small shop in the middle of town. While he was painting the doors and windows of his shop, there came a slip from the undergrounds demanding tax for starting business. What he did was gave the person who brought the slip the keys to his shop and told him to start the business by himself.
• Underground brothers, at least don’t collect taxes from hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and schools. Aren’t these schools providing education to your children? Will you not seek treatment from these hospitals if you are sick? Shame on you!!! You make holes in the same plate you are fed.
