Govt appeals to reconsider State-wide closure of shops on Sep 16

DIMAPUR, SEP 15 (NPN) : The State government has appealed to Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI) to reconsider its call for a State-wide closure of all shops and business establishments on September 16 in protest against alleged rampant, multiple and illegal taxation by Naga political groups and government agencies.

This was decided at a meeting held under the chairmanship of deputy chief minister Y Patton at Kohima on Monday to deliberate on developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with complaints of illegal taxation/extortion in Dimapur district and collection of items tax/fees by urban local bodies (ULBs) and certain other issues contained in the representation submitted by CNCCI to the chief secretary on September 9. The appeals comes even as the government announced a slew of measures to try and meet the trade body’s demands.

According to DIPR report, to meet CNCCI’s principal demand over multiple taxation, the government decided that collection of any kind of tax/fee on items/goods falling under GST regime by all municipal and town councils would be stopped immediately.

It was also decided that the administrators of all ULBs would take steps for including representatives of business community of their respective cities/towns in their advisory committees for taking decisions in respect to various business-related activities.

The meeting also instructed any government department/agency collecting tax on any item falling under GST regime to give directions for immediately stopping such collections.

Further, on the demand to prevent/stop extortion, the meeting directed commission of police, Dimapur to immediately put in place a security grid and take other measures, including stationing sufficient security personnel at various locations to check illegal taxation/extortion, in consultation with police headquarters.

The orders/directives for the decisions taken at the meeting would be issued shortly by the government.

The meeting therefore appealed to CNCCI to give support and cooperation to the government departments for tackling the menace of illegal taxation/extortion and in further improving the ease of doing business in the State.

Regarding application of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002, the meeting noted that the matter was under examination of Select Committee of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, whose meeting was scheduled on September 14.

The meeting was attended among others by Adviser urban development and municipal affairs, chief secretary, director general of police, additional chief secretary &finance commissioner and principal secretaries of urban development and municipal affairs and home commissioner, along with other senior officers.
Organisations back one-day closure of shops on Sep 16
Several organisations have extended support to the one-day total shop closure call given by Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI)’s state-wide closure of all shops and business establishments to show solidarity with DCCI’s protest against multiple taxation by Naga political groups and government agencies on September 16.
NPCC: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) through its communication department said that DCCI’s closure call was a grim reminder of how the elected government has failed the people and the state. NPCC alleged that the state government run by regional parties like NPF and NDPP together with BJP had only managed to “create a situation where they have allowed illegal taxations to flourish while condemning law abiding citizens to live under constant threat posed by nefarious elements who were allowed to hijack the writ of the state.”
NPCC asserted that the state government cannot absolve itself from “this mess” by shifting focus on unresolved Naga political issue.
“It is an irony that the state government and its agencies have become the biggest extortionist,” NPCC said, adding that they have set trend for “nefarious elements taking shelter in various NPGs to increase their activities.”
It maintained that extortion was now the only full-fledged industry in Nagaland and was no longer cottage industry as perceived in earlier times. “This is the only achievement of regional parties, NPF and now NDPP running the government with BJP since 2003,” NPCC said.
Further, Congress party also claimed that the silence of the public has only “aggravated our plight” with skyrocketing prices of every item in the market.
Congress party has urged upon every right-thinking citizen irrespective of political affiliations to come forward and hold the elected government accountable for “abdicating their duty and responsibility towards the people.”

KCCI: Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has informed that would persistently enforce the one-day business closure in Kohima on September 16, 2021 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In a press release, KCCI president Medozhatuo Rutsa and secretary information & publicity Kaihrii Henry Chisiite stated that officials and volunteers of KCCI would be assigned to monitor the implementation of the closure.
KCCI has requested all the trading communities, CSOs, NGOs and also the public in general “to be a part of this necessitating enactment from illegal and multiple taxations.”

WDCCI: Wokha District Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WDCCI) has reaffirmed that there was complete unanimity among public throughout the state over the issue of multiple taxation by NPGs.
WDCCI through its media cell has appealed to all the business community in Wokha district to close their establishments on September 16, 2021 in the fight against rampant multiple and illegal taxation by various groups and government agencies.
The chamber also requested everyone to cooperate and ensure peaceful closure of all shops within Wokha district on that day.

DDCF: Endorsing the DCCI total closure, the Dimapur District Citizens’ Forum (DDCF) has urged all its tribal and non-tribal affiliated communities to fully support the total shutdown of all shops and business establishments.
DDCF through its media cell affirmed to stand in solidarity with the DCCI and CNCCI, adding that it would fully extend support for the “genuine issue of illegal and multiple- taxation,” which was affecting every citizen of the state.

GBUD: GBs Union Dimapur (GBsUD) through its president MY Ngullie and general secretary T Onen Jamir has extended “full support” for the “total shutdown” of shops and business establishment in Dimapur on September 16 called by DCCI against multiple and rampant taxation by various groups.

DVC: Diphupar Village Council (DVC) Tuesday extended its “wholehearted support” to the DCCI’s call for the total closure of business establishments.
In a press release, DVC chairman Ghuzui Shohe and Secretary Sakulemba Jamir informed all the business establishments and shops within the village to remain closed on September 16.

KVYO: Kohima Village Youth Organisation (KAYO) has extended support to CNCCI’s call for one-day shop closure throughout the state on 16 September.
In a press release, KVYO president Ruokuoneituo Phewhuo and general secretary Neinisalie Khruomo requested all the CSOs and NGOs to support the closure call as illegal taxation was not only affecting the business community, but also the general public.
KVYO said that illegal taxation has hampered the developmental work progress throughout the state.
The organisation has also urged the state government to come up with concrete plan to tackle the menace of intimidating and threatening in collection of illegal tax. KVYO further urged the state government to expedite the matters forward by the business community.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/govt-appeals-to-reconsider-state-wide-closure-of-shops-on-sep-16/240346.html