CNCCI calls off business shutdown in nine districts after government assurance

• 

  
  

• CNCCI officials during a press briefing on Monday. (EM Images)

• 
  

• DIMAPUR — After launching its ‘indefinite voluntary shutdown’ of businesses in nine districts from Monday, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) officially called off the shutdown at 6 pm on the same day.
• 
  
• The decision comes following a written assurance from the Nagaland government stating that the concerns raised by CNCCI about nomination to urban local bodies would be addressed at the earliest.
• 
  
• This was announced by CNCCI Chairman Dr. Khekugha Muru during a press conference held at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur.

Related stories: Dimapur markets deserted as CNCCI-led shutdown begins across nine districts

Wokha businesses shut down as chamber of commerce protests against government

• According to Muru, the state government has assured the confederation that the issue will be taken up urgently, potentially in the first Cabinet meeting and, if necessary, during the upcoming Assembly session.
• 
  
• He expressed confidence that their demands will be resolved within the next few months.
• 
  
• Muru also took the opportunity to apologise to the public and consumers for any inconvenience caused during the shutdown. “It was never our intention to create disruption. Our efforts were aimed not just at supporting the business community, but ultimately at benefiting consumers by advocating for fair and inclusive representation,” he added.
• 
  
• Despite attempts by some quarters to undermine the protest, Muru highlighted the “overwhelming success” of the shutter-down, which received ‘full cooperation from businesses in all nine districts.’

Also view:

• 
  
• According to him, this unified response demonstrated the strength of the mandate given to CNCCI and the district chambers by the state’s business community.
• 
  
• “This was only the first phase of action. Had the matter not progressed positively, we were prepared to extend the shutdown to all 17 districts,” he added.
• 
  
• However, he acknowledged the state government’s responsiveness and welcomed the outcome, describing it as a mutually respectful and amicable solution.
• 
  
• A key point of contention was the state government’s decision to appoint “Special Invitees” to the municipal bodies, bypassing representatives from nine districts.

• Muru confirmed that the government has now agreed that the clause allowing the continuation of this system will no longer remain in effect.
• 
  
• When asked why the state government did not include a nominee from the Dimapur business community, Muru responded, “Only the government can answer that, as no reason was provided.”
• 
  
• He added that if nominations had been denied uniformly across all districts—including Kohima and Mokokchung—the issue may not have escalated. However, selective inclusion and exclusion became a major sticking point, he added.
• 
  
• Addressing allegations that some shopkeepers in Dimapur were forced to shut down by volunteers, CNCCI Treasurer Kevin Yepthomi clarified that the organisation had not appointed any volunteers to enforce the shutdown.
• 
  
• “The participation was entirely voluntary. It was not directed against the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) or any governing body. The business community fully understood the concerns and chose to support the cause,” he said.
• 
  
• Regarding questions about a possible rift between the CNCCI and the DMC, Yepthomi clarified that there is no conflict.
• 
  
• “The DMC is part of the government, and it is expected to follow government directives. Our movement was never against the municipality, urban local bodies, or councillors. It was a focused effort to address the legitimate demands of the business community,” he stressed.
• 
  
• The CNCCI had launched the shutdown in protest against what it described as unequal representation and lack of consultation in the nomination of business representatives to municipal bodies.