Responding to reactions from state government agencies on the revelation of involvement of its personnel collecting ‘illegal taxes’ at check gates, Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Sunday advised the concerned government department(s) to “undertake its own investigation” if it is really concerned about corruption under its nose’ instead of dabbling in non-issues.
A press release issued by Solomon L Awomi, and L Supong Ao, ACAUT secretaries reminded that in the course of its investigations, Fact-Finding Committee (FFC) under ACAUT had come across incidences where government agencies were collecting illegal taxes beyond the call of duty.
It stated that FFC has interviewed large cross section of truck drivers as well as traders to arrive at its verdict and oral evidence is admissible in a court of law.
It also termed “ridiculous to hint that unless photographic or videographic proof is evident, the integrity of personnel/staff manning the check gates should not be questioned.”
The release citing an instance said an excise constable was not so foolish as to issue challans on soft drinks or fruit laden trucks.
Secondly, it pointed out that the mad scramble for lucrative check gate postings is an industry by itself for almost all the government department having its personnel posted at the gates.
CCLD clarifies statement
Chamber of Commerce Longleng District (CCLD) Sunday clarified that its representative at July 10 ACAUT meeting in Dimapur had not said that government agencies like labor commission and district administration represented by dobashis collect taxes from traders in Longleng.
In a rejoinder, CCLD president K. Ishu Phom said that it was “compelled to clarify the statement” while terming the news report as “false and baseless.”
It claimed that the representative had only said “that toll tax and other revenue is (were) being paid by the traders of Longleng town as per the directives from government agencies.”
CCLD stated that it would not be held responsible for “any reaction” caused out of the statement. It further extended strong support to the ACAUT till the issue was resolved.
It is pertinent to point out that an ACAUT press release containing the discussions and resolutions drafted in the July 10 meeting issued to the media stated that, “Rather shockingly, Longleng CCI revealed that the district administration represented by Dobashis collects taxes from the traders.”