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Dimapur, Sep. 22 (EMN): The Diphupar Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has extended its support onthe demand made by the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union to the state government to roll back the cess imposed on petroleum products.
‘With the economy gradually opening up it has become imperative that the state government revoke the Covid cess at the earliest so as to avoid inflicting further misery upon the citizens,’ a press update stated on Tuesday.
‘It has to be noted that the prices of petrol and diesel directly influences the entire economic mechanism as a result of which, it is the economically lower and middle income families that are hit the hardest.
‘The entire populace of Nagaland collectively supported the government during this unprecedented time, however, we do not see any logic in the cess still being imposed when the government expenditure has drastically reduced and the citizens are made to pay for their own medical expenses,’ it read.
DNSU has therefore demanded that the government ‘listen to the grievances of the people’ and immediately roll back the covid cess, which otherwise would be ‘construed as a step to meet the selfish needs of the current government,’ it added.
The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has also extended their support to the ultimatum issued to the government by various civil societies to withdraw Covid cess on petroleum products.
‘The DCCI reminds the government of Nagaland that the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) along with DCCI and Nagaland Petroleum Dealers Association were the first bodies to advise the government that extra cess on petroleum products would result in a negative business environment and cause social unrest.
‘The government should know that the unpopular Covid cess on petroleum products has impacted negatively both the business community and public alike ,’ an update read.
The DCCI has therefore urged the government to rebuild the state’s economy rather than be a ‘stumbling block.’