Kohima, November 20 (MExN): The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Friday responded to the statement of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) regarding the State government’s decision to hike tax on petroleum products in Nagaland.
It took exception to the NDPP terming the cost of petrol and diesel as ‘non-issues’ and welcoming the decision of the government in increasing the tax levied on petrol, diesel and other lubricants. It accused the PDA alliance of having ‘lost touch with reality’ of the “whole of the modern world whose geopolitics is largely driven by considerations of availability, supply and reserves of petroleum fuel.” The NPF clarified that in its previous statement released on November 13, it had demanded the PDA Government to roll back the cruel decision to hike taxes on petrol and diesel “without ever once alluding” to the Chief Minister in person.
Further, the NPF acknowledged the effort of the Finance Department for publishing the retail price of petrol and diesel in some of the neighboring states. “However, to understand ground situation in their proper perspective, the Department should also equally highlight the retail cost of fuel in other NE states such as Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura where the retail cost is lower than Nagaland & not just those states where retail cost is higher or very close to Nagaland,” it added.
It called for a comprehensive comparative study of the cost of essential commodities and building materials in Nagaland with neighboring states and publish the same. “Sincere effort should then be made to ensure price-control so that the financial burden on the public is eased,” it said.
The NPF noted that the public are shouldering the brunt of the ‘imperious decision’ and demanded early roll back of the the tax hike.
