Who governs Nagaland? CNCCI questions Sunday closure order

DIMAPUR — The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has questioned the authority behind a directive calling for Sunday closure of shops across Nagaland and the shutdown of non-Naga business establishments, asking the state government to clarify who is in charge.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the trade body urged the government to investigate the directive issued by NSCN-FRGN and take action in accordance with the law if it had no legal basis.

The CNCCI also sought a public assurance that the elected government was in charge and would protect the interests of legitimate businesses. It warned that it could take its own course of action if the government failed to respond promptly.

The organisation maintained that it respected Sunday worship and the need for employees to have a weekly day of rest, but argued that these considerations should not be used to justify a blanket ban on Sunday trading.

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Under its “Naga First” principle, the CNCCI stated that it had consistently supported Naga entrepreneurs. However, it stressed that promoting local businesses should not mean excluding other communities from lawful economic activity.

The trade body warned that restrictions targeting businesses on ethnic grounds could undermine investor confidence and create communal tensions. It reminded that Naga entrepreneurs had expanded beyond the state, supplying goods and services across India and to international markets, demonstrating the importance of wider commercial engagement.

The CNCCI also called on the FRGN to focus on the Naga political issue, saying the national movement had been mandated to pursue that objective rather than intervene in matters beyond its core political role.