Signature campaign begins, public rally scheduled
EMN
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 23
REFUSING to bow to ‘pressure’, the Action Committee Against Unauthorized Taxation (ACAUT) continues on its mission to rid Nagaland of extortion, illegal taxation and business monopoly. As part of its campaign, the ACAUT will be holding a public “awareness rally” on October 31 at the City Tower in Dimapur. The programme is scheduled to commence from 9:30 am. Likewise, the public organization has also started a signature campaign against extortion and illegal taxation, at the City Tower. Citizens are requested to show support for ACAUT and sign on the banners put up at Clock Tower.
The signature campaign against illegal taxation and extortion is the first of many steps expected to be taken to bring the movement out to the streets. The signature movement got underway today here at the Clock Tower junction. The response at the time of writing this report, judging by the number of signatories as of late Wednesday night, was lukewarm.
By 2 pm on Wednesday, the ACAUT members and volunteers had hung two flex banners around the Clock Tower’s base on which supporters of the campaign could sign their names. The first person to sign was the 78-year-old Mangyang Jamir who had came all the from Imkonglenden colony, just to put his name on the flex and show his support.
He was followed by another 79-year-old grandfather Waizungba from Nagarjan, who, restricted by age, could barely keep the pen straight while putting his signature. “Aji laga bacha hoilebe sign kuriboli lagi (even youngsters must sign),” the 78-year-old Mangyang Jamir remarked.
He will be a disappointed man on Thursday. Not even one, out of the two flexes/banners, was filled up with the signatures exhibiting the citizens’ support to the campaign. Hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles drove past the spot but not a single one bothered to stop and sign.
Some non-Naga traders came in a group later in the evening to put their names on the banner. At the fall of dusk, however, a sizeable number of elderly people arrived in parts to append their support to the campaign.
At around 8.30pm, three high school boys, while on their way back home after a table tennis practice session stopped and singed their names. “We know from the newspapers that this is a campaign to fight against taxation,” said the eldest of the three, a student of class 9.
Earlier in the day, co-convener of ACAUT Joel Nillo Kath told Eastern Mirror that the campaign had been launched to take the “public support to another level.” He acknowledged that the ACAUT, since inception on May 27, had been at the receiving end of tremendous public goodwill and support. “And through this campaign we want to take the public support to another level,” Joel said. He also informed that plans to launch similar campaigns in other districts were being under discussion. The campaign in Dimapur will be open till October 31 next, he added.
“All citizens having concern for the dismal affairs of our state are urged to attend the rally without fail. The harried citizens of this state coming out in large numbers will send a strong message to the concerned authorities and organizations that Nagas are ready to set our house in order,” the ACAUT said in a message received here today. A turnout less than 10,000 will be nothing short of a disappointment, organizers said.
The committee appeals: “At this hour, the ACAUT appeals to members of every churches of every denomination, tribal hohos, youth organizations, all colonies and villages between Dimapur and Piphema, every businessman, every business organization, members of every student union, all members of the organizations representing the Tibetans, Nepalis, Biharis, Bengalis, Marwaris, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu and Indian Muslim community, etc., under Dimapur district, all mass-based organizations including Naga Hoho, NTC, NSF, ENPO, ENSF, NMA, to take this press release as an open invitation and attend the rally.”
The ACAUT also said that the issue of illegal taxation hits womenfolk the hardest. “They’re requested to make their presence felt. The schools and colleges are also requested to send the appropriate numbers. The 30,000 plus members of The Naga Blog representing the future leadership are specially requested to take the starring role and attend the rally in not less than thousands.”
Leaders of the mass-based organizations and frontal tribal hohos of Nagaland wishing to address the issue of taxation and illegal collections shall be given time to speak. The various chambers of commerce of other districts are requested to send two members each and express solidarity with the cause.
