Extends solidarity to organisations against multiple taxation
Dimapur, September 10 (MExN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) on Friday stated that “unabated taxation by several Naga political groups and the multiple taxes on every consumer items have exceeded all tolerable limits.”
It commended the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Charkroma Public Orgainsation (Chümoukedima Circle), Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI), the Chümoukedima Chamber of Trade and Commerce Association (CCTCA), Sovima Village Council and Darogapathar Village Council for having stood up against unabated taxation ‘at the right time’ and extended its ‘full support and endorsement’ for the collective cause.
BAN highlighted that the global COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the economy and the first generation local entrepreneurs in Nagaland are the most persecuted lot due to these unsolicited taxes and pandemic.
The lockdown enforced in compliance with the SOPs laid down by the State government has affected almost all businesses, especially trading, transport, essential commodities, restaurants and hotels, event management and rentals, constructions, etc, the association stated.
Many businesses have closed and many are on the brink of closure, the BAN stated while adding that for the first time, Naga business owners are facing such a devastating pandemic that has brought the whole supply chain from production to marketing to a grinding standstill.
“Even under such circumstances, the continued unreasonable demands by the armed groups is the last straw that will break the entrepreneurial spirit of a small emerging group of local young people, who prefer to live a dignified life with their sweat and toil,” the BAN stated.
It further observed that ‘forced extortion’ is the only industry that seems to be thriving during these unprecedented times, alleging that it operates like a ‘well-oiled machinery’ dodging all surveillance of the government agencies.
It further voiced concern over the use of juveniles to act as informants and collect taxes, stating that the ‘disturbing trend’ needs to be stopped immediately.
Questioning the sincerity and motives behind various ceasefire agreements being signed between the Government of India with various Naga political groups, stating that ceasefire ground rules allows various categories of arm card holders which can be easily misused to intimidate and coerce the public.
“The cadres of the various armed groups having ceasefire with the Government of India, instead of being confined to their designated camps are brawling in all trade and commerce activities collecting their loot from various business houses at their whims and fancies,” it alleged.
It wondered if the Government of India “has also given them the license to collect their rations and expenses in the name of taxation.” The indirect taxation levied on every commodity multiple times has an adverse cascading effect right down to the poorest of the poor living in both rural and urban areas of Nagaland, the BAN said. It questioned why the state machineries cannot be deployed efficiently to curb the menace of taxation that is going around rampantly.
Reiterating the Naga public’s mandate of ‘One Government, One Tax’ as declared on October 31, 2013, the BAN asserted that it is the government’s legitimate responsibility to instil confidence among the entrepreneurs and assure security for all businesses by ensuring rule of law.
“Therefore BAN appeals to the State machineries to deal with such elements befittingly and tactfully as per the law of the land,” it added.
Further, it informed BAN members to contact the following mobile numbers to address their grievances: 8837428416; 9862259701; 7005287241; 9436012590 and 9863861450.
