Nagaland govt employees demand that NIA drop probe into illegal taxation

November 21, 2017 565 Views No Comment

In a protest rally held at the State capital of Kohima, an umbrella body of different government employees demanded to put an end to the probe by NIA against officials of the Nagaland government who have been charged of siphoning government funds to pay illegal tax to the NSCN (K)

Naga Republic News

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is functioning as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in India has been told to drop investigation against various departments under the Government of Nagaland relating to illegal taxation by the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG’s). In a protest rally held at the State capital of Kohima on November 21, an umbrella body of different government employees sought the immediate intervention of the Governor with the Government of India to withdraw all charges of the NIA.

The State government employees have justified their demands on the ground that ‘serious political dialogue is going on between the Government of India and the NNPGs’. The memorandum to the Governor further appealed for protection of the lives of all the government servants in the State. “If no remedial action is taken by the state Government, the members of the Core Committee will be compelled to take action deemed fit to protect the interest of our employees”, stated the memorandum.

Organizers of the protest rally said that around ten thousand employees from all affiliated departments participated in the peaceful solidarity rally at Kohima against the backdrop of the NIA’s arrest of some State Government employees.

Later the Core Committee comprising of representatives from CANSSEA, FONSESA, NSSA and NF&ASA under the aegis of CANSSEA submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya on 21^st November 2017 at Raj Bhavan Kohima regarding the dilemma faced by Government employees on the action taken by National Investigation Agency (NIA) due to illegal taxation by underground groups.

During the meeting with CANSSEA Officials and Members, the Governor stated that a permanent solution must come into place in order to solve the problem of taxation imposed on Government departments and its Agencies. He said that the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has the political will to solve the Naga Political problem and has initiated the peace process and is moving in the right direction. The Governor expressed his hope that the settlement will be reached at the earliest.

It was learnt that the Governor assured that the matter will be taken to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary, and eventually with the higher authority in Delhi. The NIA functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The second phase of the rally will begin soon if no action is taken after the submission of the memorandum to the Governor, informed a member of the Core Committee. The Committee also stated that a copy of the memorandum will be submitted to the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary.

It may be mentioned that the NIA has in the last few months arrested several government officials working under the Nagaland government. Investigation is underway on the charge that these officials provided substantial amount to NSCN (K) by way of contributing Government funds to the banned outfit, thereby supporting NSCN (K) in furtherance of its unlawful activities. The NIA is also investigating into extortion network of NSCN (K) in Nagaland.

On the other hand there is the argument that Government employees in Nagaland are “always under threat and extreme duress from various outfits” and the NIA should “exercise restraint” and be lenient towards those government employees who have been arrested for aiding extortion by the outfits. This was stated a few months ago by the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC).

The NSCN (K) has also been accusing the NIA of trying to create chasms between their workers and the “sympathising Naga general public”, and said that it had failed to investigate any case of “actual corruption” in the State.

With inputs from DIPR and Indian Express