Dimapur, Oct. 29 (EMN): The growing and unchecked march of corruption, extortion and the authorities’ failure in containing the two maladies in Nagaland is gradually forcing the people onto the streets, two anti-graft community groups state. The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (Acaut) and the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation (NVCO), issued separate statements on Monday blaming the government and institutional authorities for failing to check the problem.
The Acaut referred to the Oct. 31 public rally against “illegal collection” organized by the Public Action Committee of the Naga Council of Dimapur.
“While the problem of unabated taxation had come down tremendously after the 31st October 2013 massive public rally held five years ago, yet the issue of illegal collection still persists with patronage from the government of Nagaland,” the Acaut stated.
“The government of Nagaland’s inability to combat the issue of unabated taxation and effectively address the issue of the common people have left the public with no choice but to go to streets and protest. Public street protest is a sign of government’s failure.”
The organisation has urged the Nagaland government to “gauge the woes and daily struggles” of the common people.
‘Pay UGs, keep them in their camps’
The organisation has suggested to the central government paying the underground groups “monetary assistance” to keep them in their designated camps. The Centre is urged to look into the problem of taxation (sic) by various NPGs (‘Naga political groups’) on business communities, which the Acaut stated had been “compounded by anti social elements who in the name of NPGs have created a nightmare like situation in the commercial town of Nagaland.”
The statement read: “The government of India may consider giving monetary assistance to the NPGs and ensure that they stay in their designated camps so that the public and the law enforcers are able to identify those anti-social agents who are constantly harassing the business community and have turned Dimapur into a haven of anti social elements.”
NVCO
The NVCO has blamed the authorities for failing to check the cycle of extortion and price rise in the state. The organisation’s statement expressed strong support the Oct 31 public rally in Dimapur. It listed out extortion, corruption, illegal business practices and syndication and ‘lease system,’ both by government agencies and underground elements, and the boomerang effect it has on the public.
The NVCO’s statement read: ‘The strong voice against the rampant multiple taxation, syndicate and lease system operating in and around Dimapur district by various unions/organisations including NPGs and state government agencies on goods and services, transporters, entry fees on vehicles, item wise taxes on goods, dealers, stockiest, whole sellers down to the retailers is to be supported by every citizen not only in Dimapur but by all the citizens in the state...’
The NVCO blamed the extortion and illegal practices in Dimapur for increasing prices across Nagaland. ‘Too many pay-counters besides the two main Nagaland check-gates... organisations including underground factions...DMC... government departments including Nagaland police especially at the check-gates, etc are harassment for the public especially transporters and business community,’ the NVCO stated.
“The state government especially the district administrations and municipal councils have failed to regulate/control the prices in the markets. As the state government was not sincere in controlling or regulating the prices of goods and services to a reasonable rate, the price goes up abnormally every Hornbill Festival and Christmas season. “And the state government has miserably failed to control the illegal collection of cash on highways and at the check-gates by Nagaland Police, associations, public organisation, unions, federation, etc in the state of Nagaland.”
