It is now over a decade after the spate of hue and cry over the issue of forcible collection, illegal collection or simply extortion, which continues to plague Dimapur, especially the business community. The saying that some things never change ; perhaps holds true with regard to the illegal collection syndrome. Recently the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) had revealed that some NNPGs and elements, despite the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic were imposing rampant and forcible collection of ‘item-wise tax’ from the traders and business community. The statement evoked outrage expressed by the Public Action Committee (PAC) of the Naga Council Dimapur and the ACAUT Nagaland. Taxation on almost all items and on all and sundry has indeed made Dimapur, the commercial capital of Nagaland as the den of unauthorised or illegal taxation and which has practically destroyed the economy of the state. In the present situation, while the entire state machinery including churches and NGOs are currently engaged with efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and while business has been crippled due to the lockdown which has brought normal life and business activities to a grinding halt; the demand for unauthorised tax by some NNPGs and elements has compounded the woes of public. Imposition of amount as transport tax is not only arbitrary but unreasonable but worse, the amount is multiplied when it is to be paid to not less then half a dozen groups. In addition to imposition of item-wise tax at check gates, the traders are also made to pay godown tax and also compelled to pay hefty transportation charges to transporters. It should also be noted, that collection of tax are not the sole preserve of NNPGs or outlaw elements but where even some government departments themselves are involved. The ordinary public ultimately pays for these additional taxations. That is why prices of commodities have been skyrocketing. The market has also been fragmented into a mafia-type syndicate system with the objective of exerting total monopoly. This is not a new development as it may be recalled that the PAC had last year gone on week-long vigil at various check gates to prevent illegal collections. Earlier to that, in 2012-13 ACAUT organised a spate of public protests against unabated taxation. In response, the government took the route of constituting a three-member High Powered Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. However even after the report was submitted to the government on June 10,2015 nothing has been heard about it. The government is probably still studying the matter very minutely and researching in depth, on every word in the report. The government’s lack of political will to tackle the tax menace has led the PAC to assume that if the government is not aware of these activities, then it reveals its incapability, complacency or complicity. The PAC also had castigated the central government and its agencies for insincerity in implementing the cease fire ground rules for which the Naga public are left to face situation at their own peril. PAC opined that an early solution to the Naga political issue was the only way to remove impediments faced by law enforcement in effectively dealing with the menace. However, the ball still remains in the state government’s court.
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