Nagaland decides to tame illegal taxation

GUWAHATI: Nagaland's financial hub, Dimapur has resolved to pay tax to any one faction of militant outfit operating in the state. This is first such revolt of the people against the illegal taxation regime perpetuated by militant outfits.

A meeting of several organizations including students organizations, civil society and business community affirmed that underground groups would be "allowed to levy tax" only at one entry point.

There are four or five militants' outfits in Nagaland which extort money from various people and run parallel government.

The meeting held on Monday resolved that "irritants such as trade license tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc shall not be entertained anymore."

Businessmen and other people have to pay illegal multiple taxes to various underground outfits.

The meeting attended by Naga Council, Chumukedima Chamber of Commerce & Industries), Dimapur District Consumer Society (DDSC) and Senior Citizen's Forum held under the aegis of Naga Council.

The meeting resolved that yearly tax, payable to different factions, would not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances, hence, amount payable would be the same as in 2012.

Cartels have sprung up in the state under which poultry products or milk trade would be sold only through the cartel. The meeting has asked the cartels to withdraw their operations.

According to the resolution, "Any market should be free and fair providing level playing field for all enterprises but the presence of syndicates will ensure that pricing will be monopolized leading to price rise and livelihood of families destroyed.