Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has reiterated its demand submitted to the governor on July 16 for an Independent Pricing Commission headed by a high court judge.
Reacting to news report of a local trader being found by SIT of NSCN (I-M) tampering price tags of hardware goods, Pradesh Congress president K Therie in a press release pointed out that such crimes were punishable under laid down laws.
Insisting that crimes should be reported to the district administration and police for justice as per the law, he said issuing quit notice was also not acceptable.
Such act went beyond the prescribed political negotiations and also against the freedom of citizens to reside and settle. District administration should intervene immediately and ensure peace, he demanded. According to Therie, it was the duty of the State government to control prices under the Essential Commodities Act. But, he alleged that the government had completely failed to controlling prices.
He said multi-government illegal taxes were added on all items, for which the common people were ultimately the sufferers.
He demanded that the State government should intervene without any bias and enforce the law to ensure consumers were protected.
It may be mentioned that the NPCC, in the memorandum submitted to the governor on July 16, had 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.