EMN
Dimapur, July 30
The past week has witnessed a war of words between the Action Committee Against Illegal Taxation (ACAIT) and NSCN-IM over the issue of ‘illegal taxation’. While the ACAUT has demanded a halt to all sorts illegal taxation, the NSCN-IM accused it of acting at the behest of “outside powers” with a ‘hidden agenda”.Today, in a strongly worded reaction to the ACAUT statement carried in local dailies, the
NSCN-IM claimed that the outfit has been doing its part to stop illegal taxation as well as unauthorized collection from within and without.
However, it said the menace of unabated taxation due to several nationalist groups in Nagalim and the pressure thereupon the taxpayer is regrettable.
The GPRN/NSCN in a statement issued by its MIP said when the ACAUT was formed with an objective to stop multiple taxation, it gave its support and extended as much cooperation as possible even beyond the demands made by committee. “Yet the organization concerned instead of responding with the spirit of oneness and camaraderie have been hurling salvo of unabated allegation without any standard of decency again and again,” it rued.
“As expected, when we try to correct the ACAUT’ from prowling in an area of having political implication, the serpent surfaced in the form of Lt. Gen. (Retd) N.George, former CFMG/CFSB chairman, backing up their adopted child in no time,” the NSCN-IM stated. It said this has made it question the credibility and sincerity of ACUAT.
Addressing the organization, the release also said “ACUAT shall know that, the struggle of the Nagas since its inception is not about economic sovereignty as you proudly profess but it is about political sovereignty which supersedes all.”
On the ACAUT blaming taxation as the reason for the increasing immoral activities in Naga society, the NSCN-IM said it will be better if the members of committee sometime move out from the cocoon of taxation and see the bigger reason behind such happening. It also advised ACAUT’ not to get too excited in their adventure while taking up the cause of multiple taxations.
Asserting that that NSCN is never under any organization, the statement, however, assured ACAUT to continue to extend its cooperation but the committee must not in any way try to exert authority in the market and exist as a pressure group.
The NSCN-IM further reiterated its suggestion to ACAUT to function within its bounds and limits and not dilute its focus less the marauding adversaries turns them into another form of faction”.
“Let it also be known to all that, NSCN has a better thing to do then jumping in the bandwagon of press war which only fulfilled the purpose of the adversaries,” the release added.
