Liba Hopeson
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f we feel pain by seeing a sick person, that sickness is a severe one. I’m not a businessman. But when I hear the cries of the disgruntled businesswomen and men against excessive taxations, I feel pain. So, those who have been affected by unabated taxations must be truly in pain. The furore and discontentment of the victims is accentuated as they come out to the streets supporting the campaign.However, it is not only the business women and men who are affected, but the entire society is affected. It will not be wrong to say that all the consumers pay tax. If there are groups of people who are not at all affected by the knowledge of illegal tax and the campaign spearheaded by ACAUT, I would assume that, they don’t bother and complain about high prices of commodities in the market. I’m very deeply affected by it and hence very much concerned. If not, I should not have written this article.
It can be argued by UG’s that they have the right to tax and they are doing the right thing. In fact, total rejection of it is not propagated. But, what we talk about is illegal and excessive taxations. And what we are concerned is paying tax to different factions, which all claim to work for the interest of the people, though the people do not actually like what they are doing. The practice of illegal and excessive taxations cannot be denied by them.
The expensive vehicles they drive, magnificent buildings they own and the extravagant life they live are few tangible evidences that they do. Once, a man said, UG’s do not ask money only from Church tithe. He said he was afraid that they may even start collecting tax from the Church. And I remember one very interesting event. One day, as I was standing somewhere in the market, two pastors came by and asked a woman the price of something for curry. After the price was made known to them, one pastor smiled and said to his friend, ‘come let’s go, we cannot buy, we are not underground’. Even the seller burst-out laughing and said that the pastor was true. In one way, it was an amusing scene, and pathetic too, as it seemed the pastors really wanted to have. But, do you think that it was an insulting and exasperating intimation? I don’t think so. I don’t consider that pastor to be arrogant and unfaithful.
It is a known fact that voices are not simply aired publicly on any matter. As ACAUT initiate in protesting against illegal and excessive taxations, thousands of people are giving their solidarity by participating in the signature revolution, and for that matter, even by saying that it’s a good movement. The campaign, I believe, will have far-reaching effect on 31st October when many people go for rally. Indeed it is a good notion to send a message to the factions that people will not be silent always when they are perturbed and burdened. However, I strongly feel that it should not be limited to Dimapur alone. For, all the people in the whole State are affected.
When all the people from all the Districts, young and old, rich and poor, small and big, join in the rally, the message to the factions will be more powerful and effective. It can also, in a way remind them that, unless they unite together as one, their interest and efforts to bring solution to the vexed Naga Political Problem will be a far cry.
Through this campaign, the healthy proposal, One Government, One Tax, can be raised more intensely.
But, my question is, will the right-wrong factions learn something worthwhile from the campaign organized by ACAUT? Or, will they continue to assert their rights and try to silence the cries of the people? I use the terms ‘right-wrong factions’, because they claim that they are right in what they are doing, though they are actually wrong. For if they are right, we might not be voicing against them.
And if they listen to the cries of the people, they should not continue collecting excessive tax. That is the reason we are not keeping silent. So, I feel, it is not the time for the factions to add fuel to the fire and try to quell the movement of the masses. But, it is the time to think seriously, realize their mistakes, humble down and learn. It is not the time to think or say, what they are trying to teach us. But, it is the time to accept the cries of the burdened people. Will they learn from this campaign? I believe, if they have conscience, they will. Money cannot be plucked in the trees like leaves. And we cannot use Xeroxed money.
BTC, Pfutsero
