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Rally against �illegal tax� collection in Dimapur

By Correspondent

DIMAPUR, Oct 31 - The Public Action Committee (PAC) of the Naga Council Dimapur held a public rally at the Khermahal junction here today, demanding an immediate halt to all forms of �illegal tax collection� by Naga political groups as well government agencies, unions and organisations in Dimapur district.

Five years back, a similar rally was organised by anti-graft group � Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland � at the City Tower junction here on this very day to make a similar demand. However, the rally on Wednesday drew fewer people than the ACAUT rally.

The speakers at the rally said the PAC was compelled to take out the rally as illegal taxation in Dimapur has become an �industry� for the Nagas, including the Naga political groups, various government agencies, unions and organisations, even though rampant collection of taxes came down considerably for two to three years after the ACAUT rally.

Bowing to the ACAUT�s demand, the State Government had constituted a three-member fact-finding team headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice HK Sema.

The speakers expressed dismay that the Government is yet to take any action on the report submitted by the team three years ago.

Speaking at the rally, PAC convener Vekhasayi Nyekha, Naga Council Dimapur president T Bangerloba Ao, member of the PAC fact-finding committee on illegal taxation Hekehvi Achumi, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur president Sungsabeni Jamio, Central Naga Tribal Council adviser Pius Lotha, Angami Public Organisation adviser Savi Liegise and leader of Eastern Naga Public Organisation W Lemba Chang expressed deep anguish over the rampant illegal tax collection in Dimapur district.

PAC fact-finding committee member Hekehvi Achumi said that there are 86 unions in Dimapur, out of which 41 unions, including government agencies and Naga political groups, are collecting illegal tax amounting to Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore annually.

At the rally, the committee adopted an eight-point resolution and demanded that the Nagaland Government must immediately stop all illegal taxation and rampant collections on various goods and services, transporters, entry fees on vehicles, and item-wise tax on goods, dealers, stockists and retailers.

The State Government must take immediate steps to check and ban the syndicate and lease system, unauthorised collection centres operating in and around Dimapur district, resulting in uncontrolled inflation, the committee stated.

As per the resolutions, the Naga general public reaffirmed their stand on �One Government One Tax� as resolved in the rally of October 31, 2013.

The public also resolved to support and uphold �solution�, not �taxation�, and appealed to the Centre and the Naga political groups to solve the protracted Naga political issue �which is the ultimate solution of all illegal taxation and collections�.

They also strongly resolved to stand united irrespective of tribe, community and social position against the menace of illegal collection of tax which has crippled and threatened the very survival of the citizens.

The rally resolved to empower the PAC of the Naga Council Dimapur to pursue the resolutions in letter and spirit.

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