DIMAPUR, July 14 - Taking serious note of a NSCN(IM) press statement claiming legitimacy to collect tax, the anti-tax group of Nagaland said it is unbecoming of a matured organisation which claims to be working for the Naga people.
The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland, in a release issued by its media cell, reminded that political organisations must win the heart and support of the people to succeed. But it is extremely regrettable and unfortunate that an organisation like the NSCN(IM) should resort to threats and intimidation for tax, citing their legitimate right to do so, it said. The ACAUT said the NSCN(IM) should also note that there are seven to eight factions, each claiming the �same thing� and sought to know how could the NSCN(IM) claim legitimacy to tax in such a scenario.
The anti-tax group also questioned all other Naga political groups (NPGs) on the claim by NSCN(IM) that �questions their legitimacy too�. As far as the public was concerned, the ACAUT said none of the NPGs have legitimacy to collect tax so long as factionalism existed which is the cause for �multiple taxations�. It said insensitivity to the plight of people would only alienate the people from the Naga political movement and NPGs, since taxation not only affected business community but also all the Nagas who are taxed for ferrying wood or vegetables from their farms and for which NPGs would have only themselves to blame.
The ACAUT reminded all NPGs to realize the obvious fact that Nagas yearn for unity and have a say on the course of their destiny. It further pointed out that all NPGs need to see the implications and urgency in obtaining the goodwill and support of people for the cause of Naga political movement.
The ACAUT said NPGs should desist from attempts to threaten organisations on the pretext of �sabotaging the Naga political movement� as they are merely echoing the mood of the public. It said the united consensus of apex NGOs on this issue is a message to the NPGs to �come under one umbrella� and added that ignoring it would be the �biggest blunder in the history of Naga political movement�. The ACAUT said this message is not its sole opinion but also of �responsible and matured� Naga organisations, such as Naga Hoho, Eastern Naga Public Organisation, Naga Council Dimapur and Naga Mothers Association representing every Naga.
Reminding that the Nagas waited with bated breath when the Naga Concordant and Lenten Agreement were signed under the initiative of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), the ACAUT said both marked a new chapter for Naga reconciliation that ignited the hearts of the people but the dreams were only to be dashed. However, ACAUT maintained that all was not lost as �unity is possible within the life time of leaders� in the Naga political movement since its inception.
