Pitch to lift Sunday closure in Dimapur gets higher

Dimapur, Feb. 25 (EMN): Three more Dimapur-based organisations have requested the NSCN (IM) to lift the Sunday closure it has imposed in the commercial hub. The Business Association of Nagas issued a statement saying “indeed as a Christian state (sic) abstaining oneself from commercial activity on Sunday is well taken, however exemption of pharmaceutical shops, restaurants, eateries, bakeries must be humanely considered.” It stated that travellers entering in and out of Dimapur on Sundays were facing difficulties. “It would be impossible and make no sense to dictate people not to journey on Sunday nor can we stop trains and flights entering on Sundays; nor can we impose fasting on travelers crossing Dimapur on Sunday,” it reasoned. The association requested the outfit to “review this ban so that we are not reprimanded for our faith and action on religious grounds.” In a joint statement, the Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation and GB Union Dimapur expressed “wholehearted” support to the Naga Council Dimapur’s call to lift the closure of markets on Sunday. They urged the NSCN (IM) to listen to the council’s “genuine and positive” call.