DIMAPUR, November 10 (NNN): The bad blood between the NSCN-IM and the Action Committee Against Unabated Tax (ACAUT) persists with the latter pledging not to give underground tax unless all the Naga underground groups get united and become one while the Naga outfit said tax is a must.
According to the NSCN-IM, paying tax is but giving allegiance to the government program and policies. “Taxation is imposed mainly for the following reasons to show loyalty to NSCN authority and legitimacy; to sustain our movements and achieve Naga political solution through peace process, mobilizing of supports and solidarity across the world; to feed and supply basic requirements for thousands of standing NSCN cadres and; to protect the rights of the Naga people and her territory occupied and divided by India and Burma,” said the NSCN-IM.
On the other hand, the ACAUT said that every government servant from the senior most bureaucrats to the humble peon shall not pay salary tax unless “one government” (one Naga underground group) comes to fruition. “This slogan shall mean that no Naga businessmen or entrepreneurs or any non-local businessmen residing in Nagaland shall pay tax to any factions unless one government becomes tangible and unless the factions unite the people will continue to suffer.”
On November 4, the NSCN-IM had said that ACAUT had no authority to dictate the people.
It can be noted here that a large number of people turned out on October 31 to join the rally in Dimapur to air their anguish against unabated taxation and illegal collections by Naga underground groups and government agencies/departments. During the rally, a 3-point resolution was passed which it claimed was legitimate, true and binding on the state government and Naga underground groups, according to ACAUT.
It can be mentioned here that ACAUT was formed early this year to check the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people esprecially the business community by various organisations particularly the Naga underground outfits.
It can also be be noted here that ACAUT had called Dimapur bandh against the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people by various outfits.
The ACAUT had said the bandh was just a pointer of things to come unless concerned organisations and authorities accede to our demands or put mechanisms in place to curb unabated taxation and ultimately price rise, namely, dealership and multiple taxations by underground organisations and price rise which is the prerogative of government to check.
The move was initiated unable to bear any longer on the rampant imposition of `taxes` on the business community and also on the general public.
ACAUT wants that there should be only one tax payable to any one underground group. ACAUT also stated earlier that the `back-breaking` multiple taxes on goods imposed by underground groups should be abolished immediately.
`Irritants` such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc. shall not be entertained anymore.
The ACAUT also wants that the yearly tax payable to different underground organisations should not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances and therefore, amount payable shall be the same as in 2012.
The creation of the new system of ‘dealership’ by underground groups has been strongly condemned. For instance, it was pointed out that under this latest innovation to milk businesses dry, there is only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry can be sold in the open market without the consent of this poultry dealer.
It can be noted here that the ACAUT had met the NSCN-IM, the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi and others on the issue.
ACAUT had also listed some other factors that cause to price rise which include DMC toll gates, police check gates, Deopani sand syndicate, Vegetable syndicate, Pan patta syndiacate, Cement and hardware syndicate, Fish and dry fish syndicate, Egg syndicate, Dry supari syndicate, Second hand clothes syndicate, Poultry product vendor union and Butcher vendor union.
The list is not exhaustive. To tackle taxation on a wider scale ACAUT will further pursue to form a fact finding committee to study and compare price of commodities in Nagaland and Assam. It will also meet the state chief minister and the governor and also submit representation to judiciary of Dimapur district.
The sale of all syndicate controlled poultry products including local chicken is henceforth banned throughout the state indefinitely, starting June 18. Anyone found selling poultry shall be doing so at their own risk. This ban shall stay in force till the price comes down to an acceptable level on par with neighbouring Assam, according to ACAUT.