The Nagaland Government on Tuesday appealed to the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) to reconsider its call for statewide closure of all the shops and business establishments on September 16.
The government also urged the traders’ body to extend support and cooperation to its departments in tackling the menace of illegal taxation/extortion and for assisting in further improving the ease of doing business in the State.
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The CNCCI called for a statewide shutdown of all businesses in the State on September 16 to show solidarity with the call of Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) for closure of all shops and business establishments in Dimapur to protest against multiple taxations by the Naga political groups and government agencies.
The State government under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton held a meeting in the conference hall of Chief Secretary J Alam in Kohima today to deliberate on developing a comprehensive strategy to deal with the complaints pertaining to Illegal taxation/extortion in Dimapur district.
The meeting also discussed the collection of item tax/fees by urban local bodies and certain other issues as contained in the representation submitted by the CNCCI to the Chief Secretary on September 9.
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The meeting decided that collection of any kind of tax/fees on items/goods that come under the GST regime will be immediately stopped by all the municipal and town councils across the State.
Any other government department or agency, which may be collecting tax on any items falling under the GST regime, will also give directions to immediately stop such collections, the government said.
It asked Dimapur Commissioner of Police, in consultation with police headquarters Kohima, 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.
The government also asked the administrators of all the urban local bodies to take steps to include the representatives of the business communities of their cities/towns in their advisory committees for taking decisions with respect to various business-related activities.
The necessary orders/directions, wherever required, for the decisions taken in the meeting, will be issued by the government shortly.
The meeting was told that the application of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFEASI), 2002, is under examination of the Select Committee of Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has extended solidarity with the call for a business shutdown in Dimapur by the DCCI and the statewide shutdown called by the CNCCI.
It also urged 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.
The NPCC said the one-day business shutdown against rampant multiple and illegal taxation by the Naga political groups and government agencies is a grim reminder of how the elected government has failed the people and the State.
“The state government-run by regional parties like NPF and NDPP together with BJP has only managed to create a situation where they have allowed illegal taxations to flourish while condemning law-abiding citizens to live under the constant threat posed by nefarious elements who were allowed to hijack the writ of the state,” the NPCC said in a statement.