Kohima, Dimapur: In protest against the issue of rampant taxation by various Naga Political Groups (NPGs), the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CNCCI), the apex body of the business and industries in Nagaland, has announced an indefinite shutter-down from Saturday onwards till further notice.
This development comes on the day when Dimapur city, under the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI), began its indefinite shutter-down on Friday. In solidarity with the DCCI, the state capital Kohima also witnessed a one-day shutter down only to extend it further.
In a letter to the presidents of district chamber of industry and commerce, CNCCI chairman, Khekugha Muru and general secretary, Dr Seyievilie Mor, has informed that the shutter-down had been necessitated since there was no positive response from the State government.
In this regard, CNCCI requested the respective district bodies to kindly cooperate and ensure shutter down.
Further, it also informed that all banking establishments, educational institutions, government offices and medical related activities would be kept outside the purview of the shutter down.
Echoing the directives received from the apex body, CNCCI, Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI), on Friday informed that it would be enforcing blanket ban on all business establishments across the state capital starting Saturday.
Addressing the media, KCCI president, Kezhazer Angami said the 12-hour shutter down had exempted pharmacies, hotels and bakeries, however, there will be no such exemptions in the ensuing indefinite shutdown.
He said that although the severity of fund drives from the Naga national workers may not be the same as Dimapur city, the business community in Kohima also face similar problems.
“When you are made to part with a good chunk of your profit it becomes difficult. In that process we have to hike the prices of commodities and the general public have to bear the brunt,” Angami said.
As there are “too many” Naga political groups, the business community is not drained financially but such actions are also driving the patience of the members. While he did not disclose the amount paid to the NPGs, he said that due to the multiple collections, prices of goods are also raised which affects the consumers.
When queried about collections by government agencies and other bodies, he stated that no reports have been received regarding any collections conducted by government agencies. However, he mentioned that there are civil society organisations that impose the sale of tickets, such as lotteries and dinner packs, for their fundraising drives.
Recently, CNCCI president Khekugha Muru, expressed how the state government is “sleeping” on the matter. “It is time that the government should act,” he said.
He acknowledged that when Dimapur is “mostly taxed”, it affects the entire business chain across the state, in addition to the “multiple taxation by multiple factions” in their respective districts.
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