It doesn't commit extortion at any point of time but levies legitimate taxes from the people: NSCN-IM

Guwahati: Following Nagaland governor RN Ravi citing collapse of law and order in the state and operation of gangs, NSCN-IM stated that NSCN did not and does not commit extortion at any point of time but levies legitimate taxes from the people.

NSCN-IM in a statement stated, “So far the Indo-Naga political talks have passed into the hands of six Prime Ministers of India. Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel got brighter when the historic Framework Agreement was signed on 3rd August, 2015, supervised and guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This agreement recognized the sovereign right of the Naga people on the basis of the unique history of the Nagas and stressed on peaceful co-existence of the two entities sharing sovereign power. What is significantly important is the inherent right of any sovereign people and nation to collect taxes from the people and commercial establishments. This is the universal practice as seen all over the world. Taxes have been the sources of sustenance that has brought the Naga political movement this far.”

The outfit stated, “This was legitimately acknowledged by the earlier Interlocutors and Indian authorities and it was never an issue. What has complicated the situation as seen today is the madness of ‘extortions’ that are being carried out by some groups in the guise of freedom fighters. NSCN did not and does not commit extortion at any point of time but levies legitimate taxes from the people.”

In a letter to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Ravi had proposed important law and order decisions like transfers and postings of officials entrusted with maintenance of law and order will be only after the approval of the Governor.

The Governor in a letter dated June 16 stated the scenario in the state is grim. The law and order has collapsed. The constitutionally established state government is being challenged on a day to day basis by the armed gangs who question the sovereignty and integrity of the nation while instruments of law and order remain totally unresponsive. “In such a backdrop I can no longer abstain from my Constitutional obligations for law and order in the state under Article 371 A(1 (b) of the constitution of India.”

He added, “I also propose to periodically review the law and order in the state and issue required lawful directions. In order to instil and ensure accountability, I also prefer to review the Annual performance appraisal reports of all such officers.”

Interlocutor of Naga talks, Ravi was appointed as Governor of Nagaland in 2019.

Ravi stated, “I have been closely observing the precarious law and order situation in the State with a lot of concern ever since August 2019 when I came here as the Governor. Day by day unrestrained depredations by half a dozen organised armed gangs, brazenly running their respective so called government challenging the legitimacy of the state government without any resistance from the state law and order machinery has created a crisis of confidence in the system. Law abiding citizens – be they daily wage earners, petty vendors, businessmen, shop-keepers, owners of restaurants or government servants are made miserable by rampant extortions and violence by the armed gangs,” Ravi said.

He elaborated that the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the armed miscreants appoint their own dealers for every commodity from salt to construction materials coming into the state. They decide and levy illegal taxes on every item. They run syndicates for contrabands including alcoholic drinks which they help smuggle into the state.

NSCN- IM added notwithstanding the exasperating time taken to strike the final deal, it was the most peaceful period in the history of Naga political movement spanning over seventy (70) years. However, taking advantage of peaceful environment created by the Indo-Naga ceasefire there were offshoots of pseudo-nationalists tagged with high sounding names.” But in the long run they proved themselves nothing less than commercialized organizations least connected with Naga political issue. Nobody cried foul against such mushrooming of mercenary groups which is the root cause of the problem today that smears the ongoing Indo-Naga political process. NSCN is the recognized and legitimate national organization of the Naga people and not a gang”

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