Close on the heels of various business organizations, NGOs, tribe hohos, political parties who have also demanded rollback of COVID-19 cess, the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT), Wokha District Congress Committee (WDCC) and Kiphire Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry(KTCCI) have also slammed the imposition of COVID-19 and demanded its rollback.
MTLT: Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has also flayed the decision to impose COVID-19 cess on diesel and petrol that became effective on midnight of April 28,2020. MTLT president Imkummeren Jamir and convener, Grievances Cell Aolong Imchen in a representation to chief secretary said various organizations, business communities, NGOs, political parties and even petroleum dealers were taken by surprise by the imposition of the cess and have also urged upon the state government to revoke it without further delay.
MTLT said though it acknowledged that the state government was going through an extraordinary situation including all sections of society who have been affected by the nationwide lockdown, the government ought to understand the suffering of the people.
It said that the demands for rollback by business community, particularly the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of different districts, “are not without reason” and failed to understand why the state government imposed COVID-19 cess on petroleum products at a time when the prices of essential commodities are slowly increasing day by day. MTLT said it joined the rest of the people in demanding a roll back of the COVID-19 without further delay.
WDCC: Wokha District Congress Committee (WDCC) in a statement issued by its president Rabomo Ngullie and general secretary Yanchumrhumo W. Jami expressed deep resentment at the hike in fuel prices which it said would only add to the woes of the common people at a time when everybody was facing problems caused by the lockdown due to COVID-19.
WDCC said while international prices of fuel have recorded the lowest in the past two decades, the government of Nagaland had stood above states in India and the globe in hiking prices of fuel that tax the common people instead of alleviating their problems.
WDCC further said while NGOs, churches and individuals showed concern over COVID-19 by donating materially and financially, the state government has unwisely taxed the people and COVID-19 volunteers and caused more burden on the common people adding it was “totally unfair and need immediate redressal.”
KTCCI: Kiphire Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KTCCI), in a statement issued by its chairman C.S. Litingse and secretary Tsalichum expressed full support to the decision by the CNCCI against the imposition of COVID-19 cess by the state government. KTCCI said the hikes would jeopardise business and indirectly add to the suffering of the common people. KTCCI said the COVID-19 cess was an “utter catastrophe for remote districts confronting price rise”.
It said that far flung districts faced various problems such as people having to travel long distances, the deplorable roads and risks of travel during monsoon. It said vehicles carrying goods often get stranded mid-way and therefore the state government ought to understand these problems faced by the people particularly on hikes in prices of fuel.
KTCCI said hike in prices of fuel will definitely affect transporters and push up prices of all commodities which the common people will have to bear the brunt. In view of the above, KTCCI urged upon the government to rollback the cess on petrol and diesel while reaffirming its support to the stand taken by the CNCCI.