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Dimapur, Sep. 7 (EMN): While extending its support to Lahorijan and Khatkhati Truck Owners Welfare Society Assam and Bokajan Truck Owners’ Association, Assam in their warning to block the national highways, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) on Sunday has appealed to the state government to stop the Covid cess fuel price and illegal taxation at check-gates and on national highways.
NVCO extended its support to the truck owners associations of Lahorijan, Khatkhati and Bokajan in their concern over taxation being collected from heavy vehicles by various ‘law enforcing agencies and underground outfits’ at different designated points and gates starting from Dimapur entry gate till Imphal.
The organisation appealed to the state government to stop illegal collection of cash at all check-gates and on highways by effectively executing the government standing order dated June 22, 2009, issued by the chief secretary to the government of Nagaland which stated “the state government has decided that henceforth no collection of taxes/cash shall be made by any organisation or individual including government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments etc.”
The check-gates are controlled and maintained by Nagaland Police mainly to check the vehicles carrying contraband goods or any theft of goods, vehicles, etc., but not to take cash from vehicles/truckers, it stated.
NVCO stated that few years ago, in order to stop the illegal taxation, the state government had lifted all the check-gates except the few border check-gates; however, after in the course of time, the check-gates slowly took its place and the normal practice of collection of cash by police and organisations continues till date.
‘Several policemen especially the lower ranking wish to get check-gates duty and even fight for it when the actual duty at check-gates is supposed to be the most difficult one, but the duty personnel are more interested in the cash collection,’ it read.
Stating that illegal collection of cash at check-gates has been going on for the last several decades, NVCO said that it has to be stopped.
Pointing out that more check-gates and toll tax counters have come up, NVCO asserted that no tax or collection of cash including toll tax counters should be maintained and no check post should be allowed to block the highway just for toll tax.
NVCO President Kezhokhoto Savi recollected the several bandhs, ‘chakka jam’ and strike in the past called by several councils, unions and truck associations against illegal taxation and extortion in the state of Nagaland while pointing out the ‘suffering of the innocent public due to skyrocketing prices of commodities due to heavy taxation.’
“Today every civil society in the state is voicing against various illegal taxation and collection of cash on highways because now it has come to light, loud and clear that the major cause of price-rise is illegal taxation,” he said.
Savi said the practices of illegal taxation in the state are in different forms such as ‘taxations imposed upon the business community, government employees and developmental projects by the various underground factions, deduction and collection of abnormal commissions in the name of party funds and several others including higher-ups offices mainly from the developmental projects or contractor’s bill, collection of cash on the highways and check-gates by unions, public organisations, police, federations, and several government departments.’
The president urged the state government to stop all forms of illegal taxation such as collection of cash at check-gates and highways, business community by various factions and deduction of commission in the name of party fund. He further appealed all the district administrations to give more effort in tackling the illegal taxation at check-gates and on highways especially in the state capital, Kohima and commercial hub, Dimapur.