The Congress party, Nagaland Peoples Front and Business Association of Nagas (BAN) were some of the organizations who have raised a strong voice against the hike in petrol and diesel rates by the state government.
NPF in a press release stated “As understood by a layman, a Cess is a tax on tax, an amount payable on the tax amount. However, it is painfully understood by the public that any increase in any form of tax is ultimately paid for by the consumers and not by the dealers, who happily recover the taxed amount many times over by raising the retail cost of the product,”
“the government of the day is trying to recover immediately the little pinch of free ration given to few daily wage earners in the name of lockdown.”
“The Government may seek justification, citing the preparatory cost being incurred by the state due to the pandemic. But the Naga Public must not be taken for a ride yet again by technical explanations and smooth abstract rhetoric. The Preparatory period is over. Sufficient amount of money have poured into the state coffers for this very purpose. If Nagaland state is still not prepared yet, no amount of money will suffice,” the opposition party said.
NPCC President, K Therie stated “In the present situation where the people have lost business and jobs, development activities halted, industries closed and farming activities affected for those living in urban areas, imposing of extra tax is nothing but adding salt to injury.”
Instead of raising cess to increase prices, it advised the government to restructure the state’s economy to stimulate economic growth and check price rise.
BAN: The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) today said that the announcement on COVID-19 Cess “came as a shock as the entire world is witnessing a drastic reduction in the international price of crude oil and everyone was expecting a reciprocal reduction in the price of fuel.”
“It does not require rocket science technology to foresee the negative impact that would have on the economy of the state,” BAN stated in a press release, adding this would lead to a cascading impact on all walks of life, primarily on the economic enterprises of the state.
Moreover, with the consequent increase in the freight charges as also the agricultural production cost, the livelihoods of the citizens, particularly the rural masses will be drastically affected, the Association added.