Therie attacks PDA govt on illegal collection, price rise

July 17, 2021 43 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, JULY 1& (NPN) : Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K Therie lambasted the ruling PDA coalition government of failing to check rising prices of essential commodities in the state which have escalated over 100% due to failure of administration to enforce price control and curbing extortion by various factions and multiple organisations.

He was addressing media persons at Congress Bhavan here on Friday after submitting a memorandum to the governor as part of All India Congress Committee’s 10-day nationwide agitation and peaceful protest that began on July 7.

Therie said every illegal collection and taxation only pushed up prices and said if the PDA government was not willing to prevent them then it should be blamed for encouraging such activities.

He also said since the state government was unwilling to prevent illegal collection and taxation, then the governor should constitute a High Powered Committee to streamline the registration of societies and debar those found to be collecting money from public.

Therie said the PDA government was supporting collections through its policy to facilitate and support the peace process. He said as per the constitution, no society is allowed to collect money from public unless approved by the elected members.

Therie slammed DC Kohima, for not giving permission to his party to hold the protest rally in Kohima even after an undertaking to follow covid protocols. He said the DC Dimapur had allowed holding of the protest rally in Dimapur under strict covid protocols.

Therie said what is being highlighted (fuel hikes) is not a Congress issue but people’s issue and whether DC Kohima was trying to please “somebody”?

Meanwhile, responding to a query on Congress’ activities, Therie said the agitation was not for the party alone. Since price rise was affecting everyone, people should come out and voice their opposition together against it.

Earlier, NPCC submitted a memorandum to the governor through commissioner & secretary.

The memorandum stated that in the last two months alone Government of India had hiked fuel prices 35 times in more than 200 cities, which led to petrol prices touching more that Rs 100 per litre. Even in Nagaland, petrol prices crossed Rs 100 per litre in all the 12 districts, it claimed.

NPCC mentioned that the Centre was levying Rs 32.90 on petrol and Rs 31.80 on diesel as Central Excise Duty, pointing that more than Rs 22 lakh crore had already been collected in this manner in the last seven years.

The memorandum also accused the State government of abdicating its responsibility vis-à-vis checking price rise ever since it decided to “actively facilitate and support” collection of illegal taxes by Naga national workers that, it added, was “no less than starving its people to fund terrorism”.

NPCC alleged that hundreds of associations were collecting money everyday under the very nose of government authorities, which were all leading to rise in prices of essential commodities and construction materials.

“This amounts to total breakdown of constitutional machinery as the law of the land does not exist anymore in the State under regional party government,” it added.

Pointing out that unemployment was at its peak and lack of opportunities in employment was driving the society towards hunger and frustration, NPCC warned that all this was leading the State into a “danger zone”, even as the political issue remained unresolved.

The party demanded rollback of Centre Excise Duty, State VAT, LPG price and SK oil to the 2014 benchmark.

Seeking formation of an independent pricing commission headed by a high court judge to streamline prices of essential commodities and enforce Essential Commodities Act, 1955 as amended up to date, NPCC also demanded forming High Powered Committee to streamline collection of fees, donations and contributions by various unions/associations.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/therie-attacks-pda-govt-on-illegal-collection-price-rise/236505.html