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Dimapur, Sep. 10 (EMN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has extended support to various civil and business organisations, including the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) that have stood up against unabated taxation by several Naga political groups (NPGs).
In a press release, the association stated that the first generation local entrepreneurs in Nagaland have been badly affected by unsolicited taxes and pandemic.
“Many businesses had closed and many are on the brink of closures. Businesses have come to a point where enterprises might fail but if the entrepreneur is finished, thousands of employees in the unorganised private sectors will be left jobless,” read the press release.
While maintaining that there can’t be employment without employers, it said the whole supply chain has been brought to a grinding halt.
“Even under such circumstances, the continued unreasonable demands by the armed groups is the last straw that will break the entrepreneurial spirit of a small emerging group of local young people, who prefer to live a dignified life with their sweat and toil,” it stated, adding that extortion is the only obnoxious industry that seems to be thriving during these unprecedented times.
“In a continuous upgrade of strategic means to collect such unwanted taxes the use of juveniles to act as informants and collect taxes is another disturbing trend that needs to be stopped immediately,” it stated.
BAN also expressed doubts over the motive behind the Centre signing ceasefire agreements with various NPGs, alleging that it allows “arm card holders” to coerce the public. It also wonders if the GOI has given cadres of armed groups the license to collect their rations and expenses in the name of taxation’.
It also asked why the government can’t deploy its machineries to curb the menace of unabated taxation. While stating that the government should instil confidence among the entrepreneurs and assure security for all businesses, it appealed to “the state machineries to deal with such elements befittingly and tactfully as per the law of the land”.