DIMAPUR, JULY 20 (MExN): The Angamimiapfü Mechü Krotho (AMK) has expressed concern at the ailing plight of the business communities and took strong exception on the recent assault on LPG drivers by miscreants.
A press release from the AMK rued that business communities are often subjected to harassment by “perhaps known groups masquerading as miscreants and extortionists demanding heavy tax on someone's sweat and toil.” The rampant unabated tax collection has gone to its lowest ebb of not even sparing small time entrepreneurs whose dignity of labour to survive has been put to jeopardy by some bunch of crooks and hooligans, it observed.
“The excessive spree of countless groups of extortion is putting a section of the business community into the ventilator. The forcible tax imposition haunts them like nightmare and their tryst for business economy has spiraled into deep psychological harassment shattering their unflinching morale and commitment to serve the people,” the AMK said.
It urged the State machinery to wake up and play the role they are expected in an established democratic set up. The extortion menace plaguing Naga society needs to be totally wiped out as it is one way or the other way of affecting the cycle of existence, the AMK said.
Regarding the assault on two drivers, the AMK said that this is “another glaring incident of utmost insanity which is uncalled for in a society that affirms its faith by the principles of Christianity.”
It further pointed out that “persons booked for extortion and other relevant charges go scot free after 5-10 days of serving sentence even when they are charged for offences with imprisonment of more than 5 years as prescribed under the law of the land.” If such circumstances continue, the faith on the justice delivery system is at stake, the AMK stated.
It called upon the government to “do justice to the faith reposed on them by the citizens of the State. Extortion, illegal taxation and other unabated collection need to be reined in to bring back civility, harmony and normalcy in the society.”
The AMK expressed support to the All Kohima Indane Distributor Association (AKIDA) in their “legal battle against notorious miscreants constantly disturbing the peace and tranquillity of our society.” It further said the AMK would “do whatever is possible from our end.”
The AMK however asked the AKIDA to resume LPG services to the public on humanitarian ground, “without compromising the legal battle for the right cause.”
