Extortion, Extortion, & Extortion: Mon society protests

EMN
Dimapur, November 27

While the docile government of Nagaland timidly tip-toes about, the malignant disease of extortion and ‘illegal taxation’ and the outcry of citizens and business communities from across Dimapur to Mon district continue to be heard.
The business community of Mon town and civil society led by the Konyak community leaderships took out a public rally on November 26 strongly protesting the rampant “taxation, demand, extortion, collections,” the district. While the community did not name any individuals or organizations for perpetrating extortion, the sections responsible for it were not lost on the protesting people.
The message of the community during the rally was that the people can no longer tolerate the culture of extortion as being experience in Nagaland and rather want peace and development.
The Mon Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the event, dubbed the “campaign rally against taxation and extortion,” in Mon town. Around 500 businesses took part in the rally, the organizers said in a press release issued to the media on Friday.
“During the rally all the shops and business establishment was close. The rally which started from new site junction, culminated at private bus station Mon town,” the statement said.
Members and leaders of the Konyak Union, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK), Konyak Student’s Union, Mon Town Students’ Union, besides traders and businesses attended the public rally, the organizers stated.
“The rally was held peacefully without any untoward incident. We condemned taxation, demand, extortion, collections and we want peace and development was the slogan that were used during the rally,” the statement said.
During the rally, the protestors expressed demand for peaceful business activities and that extortion and so-called ‘taxation’ should be stopped.
“Let us say no to demand and yes to development were the play cards that were use during the rally,” the organizers said.