NSCN (K) has asserted its right to levy tax saying “taxation to NSCN/GPRN is a conscious political exercise of the Naga people that legitimises the mandated national aspiration for sovereign independence which the NSCN/GPRN upholds”.
The assertion comes in the wake of the arrest of three government officials by the national Investigation Authority (NIA) on charges of collecting tax for NSCN (K).
NSCN (K) through its MIP claimed support from the Naga public on the issue of taxation, stipulations and donations. It has accused NIA of “creating chasms between the Naga national workers and the sympathising Naga general public”, while pointing out that not a single case of actual corruption have been investigated despite popular public outcry against corruption being practised rampantly in almost every public establishments and institutions.
MIP termed NIA’s action as a “desperate attempt to veil off its frustration and failure to stem the Naga struggle and to coerce the patriotic and freedom loving Nagas to abstain from performing one’s obligation towards national cause.”
NSCN (K) also termed the “anti-Naga and anti-people intent, policies and action” of the NIA as “pre-mediated”. MIP claimed that it was conspiracy of government of India in fomenting divisions and creation of several criminal gangs that was tormenting the economically challenged state of affairs.
The NSCN (K) further accused the government of India of creating and sponsoring several anti-Naga factions in an attempt to discredit the “mandated people’s struggle.”
In this regard, NSCN (K) reminded government of India that taxation had always formed an integral part of Naga self-governance ever since the earliest political intercourse with the British-India Empire and the ensuing political agreements spawned over the decades.
As such, NSCN/GPRN affirmed to continue levying of reasonable and affordable taxes which, it said, the people had willingly been subscribing to not only for the sustenance of “our” national struggle but in preservation of the inherent rights to self-govern and self-determine “our” destiny.
Further, NSCN (K) also appealed the Nagas to rise against an “alien authority persecuting the upright Naga public servants while massive corruption in public offices remains unchecked and criminals roams scot free.”
NSCN (K) said Nagas need to “seriously ponder over the free reign and patronage being accorded to certain group by NIA and government of India to publicly enforce exaction of 12% taxes on state’s public servants when it is an open fact that the group has acceded to the condition “acceptance of Indian constitution” as repeatedly affirmed by top Indian political leaders.”
Meanwhile, it has also cautioned that NSCN/GPRN shall not tolerate any departmental authorities collaborating with NIA, and warned of “punitive” against “conniving traitor officials” individually for which, it said, NIA must be held accountable for any consequence.
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