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Dimapur, Nov. 19 (EMN): National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland has denounced the recent hike in prices of petrol and diesel through an order of the Finance department stating that it is bereft of any possible logic especially at a time when the entire economy of the state is in jeopardy.
NPP Nagaland expressed astonishment to note that the state government could resort to such ‘inhuman practice’ of increasing tax on diesel and petrol respectively in lieu of the Covid-19 cess which was abrogated just recently.
“It is highly condemnable that instead of allaying the financial burden of the people during this Christmas season, it has resorted to an anti-people hike in the prices of fuel which will double the burden of the common people as it will unduly result in price rise across the state which is akin to adding salt to the injury of the people,” a NPP Nagaland statement through its media cell stated on Thursday.
It reminded the government that prices of commodities are already at an all time high due to various reasons and that an additional hike in fuel prices would give the traders another opportunity to raise the prices. It, therefore, stated that the illegitimate manner in which the state government tried to add burdens on the common people during this time of crisis was totally intolerable and deserved condemnation in the strongest terms.
While contradicting the government’s excuse by citing the financial crisis of the state as the reason for the hike in fuel prices, NPP Nagaland has questioned the logic of passing the burden of financial crisis on the common people. It was of the opinion that during this trying times, the government should have the moral credibility of not increasing the prices of commodities including fuel but instead lower taxes so that consumers are spared.
Stating that the government has better options instead of increasing the fuel prices, NPP Nagaland accused the state government of lacking a political will to do so nor does it want the central funds to be utilised for the benefit of the common people.
NPP Nagaland also accused the state government of making a mockery of itself by calling the legitimate criticism of the government policies and practices by the opposition parties as ‘barking’. It attributed the government of low mentality and arrogant attitude to withstand any criticism. It stated that for a healthy democratic society to flourish, there should be enough space for healthy criticism adding the government should lend its ears to the demands and criticisms of the people including that of the opposition political parties.
NPP Nagaland also castigated the state government for not taking notice of the deplorable condition of community health centres overgrown with jungle in the rural areas with little or no facility at all and the poor condition of roads which are filled with potholes in most of the road stretches.
NPP Nagaland also suggested the government to take initiatives in setting up industries and revive the stagnant and dormant industries so that resources of the state could be utilised to produce indigenous goods which would not only help in reviving the economy of the state but also provide employment opportunities to thousands of educated youths.
NPP Nagaland further called upon the state government to mull upon drafting an action plan for boosting the state’s economy by sustainable development rather than arbitrary taxation. It urged the government to take a matured stand on its criticisms and roll back the hike in petrol and diesel prices across the state.