Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) has registered its strong protest against the State government’s decision to impose “abnormal cess” on petroleum products and called for its revocation in the best interest of all concerned.
In a press release, the trade body termed the move to impose “abnormal cess” on diesel and petrol and motor spirit by Rs 5 and 6 respectively as totally “uncalled for, anti-people and devoid of any logic”.
At a time when the common public was hard hit on all fronts due to the lockdown in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCCI said the order to hike fuel prices was nothing more than utter disregard of the common man’s plight by the government of the day.
Urging the government to take the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (CNCCI) representation calling for rollback with all seriousness as it represented the entire business community, DCCI announced that it was ready to act upon CNCCI directives to go to any length to see that the arbitrary cess on fuel prices was revoked.
The release called upon the State government should take into consideration contribution of civil society organisations and general public during this time of crisis and refrain from harassing the common citizens through unpopular taxation and cess.
Pointing out that it was no time to indulge in confrontation and that the whole State should join hands in the fight against COVID-19, DCCI said the government should listen to the voice of stakeholders.
Urging the government to learn from other States in India where hundreds and thousands of crores of rupees were being pumped in as stimulus packages to save and restore economies, the trade body observed that Nagaland government had become too naive.
It also acknowledged and conveyed gratitude to the Central government for providing materials and other logistic support in this hour of need when the State was grappling to wake up to the realities.