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DIMAPUR — The Dimapur-based civil society organisations (CSOs), tribal hohos and unions on Saturday said that the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), which is spearheading the ongoing indefinite shutter down protest, and the government of Nagaland should settle the matter within two days.
Failing to do so will compel the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) and other civil bodies to “take further stringent course of action in Dimapur district”, read NCD’s representation to Nagaland Chief Secretary (CS).
This was resolved at an emergency meeting convened by the NCD with Dimapur-based organisations to deliberate the indefinite shutter down called by DCCI, at its conference hall on Saturday.
Normal life has been badly affected in Dimapur and a few other districts since the DCCI ordered an indefinite closure of business establishments since Friday, to protest unabated multiple taxation, extortion and harassment on the business community by the Naga political groups (NPGs), before the Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) extended the agitation across the state starting April 27.
Addressing the media after a four-hour meeting on Saturday, NCD president Etsungmomo Kikon said the house couldn’t finalise any of the issue as the DCCI did not attend due to prior engagement.
‘However, we decided that the DCCI should meet the government and resolve the indefinite shutter down at the earliest because public is suffering,’ he said.
Kikon further pointed out that people are “facing lots of extortions, not necessarily taxation” but in the form of multiple collections by various associations and unions. “Sooner or later the grievances committee will take up all these issues with the government,” he added.
The representation to the CS also highlighted several resolutions passed by the house, including NCD’s participation in the negotiation process and decision on the matter.
While extending support to the ongoing indefinite agitation in Dimapur, the house re-affirmed the earlier resolution of NCD passed in 2012, “that no arbitrary imposition of lightning bandh/strikes will be allowed under its jurisdiction without its permission”.
It further served 45 days notice to the Home department and the district administration to thoroughly verify and scrutinise all the existing unions, associations and welfare organisations.
“Given the gravity of the situation, no illegal taxation/extortion will be entertained to any Naga Political Groups (NPGs) as long as this present impasse is resolved between the CSOs, Government of Nagaland and the Government of India,” read the resolution.
“The house resolved to re-iterate the NCD earlier memorandum to the Government of India to resolve the Naga political imbroglio at the earliest as it is the root cause of illegal collection of money from the business communities and the public,” it continued.
The house also re-affirmed the empowering of Dimapur Public Grievances Committee under Vigilance Committee of NCD to address all the grievances of the public in Dimapur.
On this, the convenor of Business Association of Nagas (BAN) grievances cell, Akum Jamir, who is also part of NCD vigilance committee, said the NCD has passed on the ball to the BAN to find out issues and problems.
The main problem in Dimapur, he said, is extortion in the name of welfare unions and committees, adding that there are more than 100 welfare committees.
He said that they would recommend the government to find out the fees collected monthly or yearly by the BAN members and implement a strict rule for recognising the unions and all the transactions should be done digitally.
He added that they would also recommend the NCD to write a letter to the Home Commissioner, asking all the unions to submit their details including the amount collected monthly or annually from their members, as well as request the Home Commissioner to ensure that unions and welfare committees make financial transactions digitally to maintain accountability.
‘Any group failing to submit this should not be allowed to continue as a union or welfare committee. Nagaland is known as tax haven and extortion haven. Any crime or taxation should be reported and if anybody does not report the taxation or illegal activities, they should be treated equally with the extortion party. They should be known as conspirators and put under terror funding,’ said Jamir.
It may be mentioned that the house also lauded the state government for taking the indefinite shutter-down issue seriously, direction to book extortion cases under the National Security Act and strict implementation of the ceasefire ground rules.
The house also appreciated the DGP for deployment of additional forces to check the illegal and rampant collection in Dimapur.