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DIMAPUR — The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on Tuesday said that the recent shutter down of shops and business establishments in Dimapur by the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) had brought out the common issue related to multiple taxation, extortion, collection and donation drives by various groups, syndicates, welfare associations and unions, which affect peaceful business activities in particular.
In a press release, the Naga Council Dimapur said that the council and civil society organisations of Dimapur had a review meeting on the two-day indefinite shutter down in Dimapur district.
The meeting observed that the shutter down was necessitated due to unabated and never ending multiple tax collection, extortion and donation by various groups, syndicates, unions and NGOs, which made the public unable to do any business. Even the vegetable vendors who come from far-flung rural areas to sell their goods for their survival are not spared, it said.
The council said this was the reason why the shutter down received an overwhelming public support not only in Dimapur district alone but from the people of the entire state.
It went on to state that the protest against multiple taxation and extortion almost became a mass movement covering the entire state and could have aggravated had the district administration and law enforcing agencies not intervened in time.
The council also maintained that since the situation had become unbearable, the DCCI brought out the issue to the notice of the state government to take necessary steps to contain the illegal and anti-social activities which are hampering the economic growth of the people.
The NCD appealed to the state government to extend special attention to the security of public and business communities and also to install all-around efficient administrative systems to free Dimapur from illegal business activities, city goons, monopoly market, syndicates, drug traffickers and users.
In the meeting, the CSOs also categorically stated that it was never the intention of DCCI to target any particular Naga political groups (NPGs), the release stated.
“Within the cognisance of the NCD too, it is an undeniable fact that most of the money collections from the traders/business communities are done in the name of some NPGs and even through adopting different modus operandi to loot businessmen,” it stated.
Therefore, any Naga organisation not cooperating with the move against the menace of extortion and multiple taxation will be “unfortunate,” the council said.
It further pointed out that “one evil business practice” in Dimapur is that there are numerous business syndicates in the city monopolised by outsiders who have link system with local bodies, which adversely affects petty local businessmen including local vegetable vendors coming from rural villages in Dimapur market areas.
It insisted that the concerned authorities, including NPGs, should ensure that the syndicate system is legally abolished once and for all, and that any citizen interested in business should be free to compete in the Dimapur market.
“Therefore, NCD appeals to concerned district administrative authorities and NPGs to legally discourage the practice of syndicate business in Dimapur, so as to give local businessmen a chance to development their business. Multiple taxation/extortion of money from public and summoning/kidnapping for ransom is serious issue and is the main hindrance of economic growth and sustenance,” the council added.
Meanwhile, the NCD and Dimapur-based CSOs extended appreciation to the state government for taking the issue in all seriousness and promptly responding to the DCCI’s charter of demands.
“Further, the state government had conveyed full assurance to the people of the state in dealing all such illegal activities and for safety and protection of people,” it said.
The NCD also acknowledged the deputy commissioner of Dimapur and the commissioner of police for their timely intervention and coordination with the CSOs and the state government, resulting in calling off of the indefinite shutter down.
Affirming that containing and eradicating all illegal activities requires cooperation from every walk of life including the state government and NPGs, the NCD appealed to all to ponder together so as to create a congenial environment for a free and competitive market in Dimapur.