To,
The Chief Minister
Government of Nagaland
Kohima, Nagaland

Sub: Memorandum on COVID-19 Cess on diesel, petrol and motor spirits in Nagaland

Sir,
The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) is compelled to issue this memorandum on the subject cited above for your kind perusal and immediate necessary action.

That Sir, the MTLT acknowledges the fact that our state, along with the rest of the country and the world, is going through an unprecedented time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In such a situation, the MTLT acknowledges the state government, the frontline workers, the different organizations and individuals for coming together in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

However, despite the many good initiatives taken by the state government in the fight against this pandemic, the cabinet decision to impose a COVID-19 cess on diesel (Rs. 5), petrol and motor spirit (Rs. 6) effective from midnight of April 28, 2020 still remains an anti-people and anti-poor people decision.

The MTLT reiterates our informed assertion that this COVID-19 cess on petroleum products is nothing short of aggravating the already inconsolable hardships being faced by the common people in the state. The MTLT had already submitted a representation, through the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, to the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland through a letter vide ‘Ref No 06/20/MTLT dated 06/05/2020’ which we are sure was relayed to the state government.

The cabinet decision on the COVID-19 cess on petroleum products was also censured by almost all the stakeholders in the society – the business communities, political parties, NGOs, and petroleum traders – which obviously fell on deaf ears.

The assertion of the state government that COVID-19 cess on petroleum products would not lead to any price rise in the market has been rendered as false while looking at the ground realities. Ever since the lockdown started, the prices of essential commodities had been steadily increasing. After the COVID-19 cess was implemented, the prices of essential commodities have raised exponentially which is directly or indirectly affecting the common people. The contention of the state government about the COVID-19 cess being a means to ‘tax the rich to help the poor’ is illogical, if not blatantly misleading the general masses. This tax on petroleum products is causing unmatched inflation especially in the rural areas as they have to hire trucks to transport the essential commodities.

Therefore, the MTLT reiterates that this COVID-19 cess on diesel, petrol and motor spirits is totally against the welfare of the people especially in such a time as such when the business communities are incurring huge losses, and the common people are bearing the brunt of it.

As such, the MTLT submits this memorandum in the hope that your dynamic leadership, as the chief minister of Nagaland and your honorable cabinet colleagues, would review the cabinet decision at the earliest possible time. The people of Nagaland have been praying for all the elected members, the state government, the frontline workers throughout this pandemic; the people have also been rendering all out support to the state government in different ways to lighten the hardships of the people. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

(IMKUMMEREN JAMIR). President

(LANU PONGEN) General Secretary

(AOLONG IMCHEN). Convener

MTLT MTLT Grievances Cell, MTLT

Copy to:
1. Chief Secretary Government of Nagaland, Kohima for information and necessary action
2. Commissioner & Secretary to CM for information and necessary action
3. All the elected MLAs from Ao Community
4. Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung for information and necessary action
5. Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung
6. President Ao Senden for information
7. President, Watsu Mungdang for information
8. President, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang for information
9. Chairman, All Ward Union Mokokchung for information
10. Editors of all print media in Nagaland 11.for kind publication
Office Copy

(LANU PONGEN)
General Secretary
MTLT