Naga National Political Groups forcefully collecting tax, says DCCI

Dimapur, June 22 (EMN): The Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) said on Monday that it is “deeply perturbed to note that some Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) and other elements are forcefully imposing and collecting tax from shops and business establishments”.

In a press release issued on June 22, the DCCI described the alleged collection of tax by NNPG as “most unfortunate”, stating that “it comes during a time when the resources and energy of the whole society and government is focused on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic”.

DCCI, also being a member of the Covid-19 District Task Force, has been rendering all out support, assistance and co-operation to the district administration and civil societies in this common fight, it said.

“It is learnt that the some NNPG are now demanding taxation ‘item-wise’ and intimidating the business community to meet their demand. This extreme form of taxation will surely sound the death knell of the business community. Due to extended lockdown, many businessmen are undergoing untold economic hardship and many are not even able to pay rent due to closure of shops for a long period. Besides, many shops and markets are yet to open their shutters,” the press release read.

The DCCI has urged the NNPG to understand the situation of the business community who are trying their best to get back on their feet, stating that at this juncture, “better sense should prevail and resorting to intimidation or threat is not the answer as we are all bound together in humanity”.

The business community has also appealed to the district administration and police to keep a vigil and ensure security and safety of the business community.

The DCCI went on to state that it had submitted a representation to the DC Dimapur on June 3 on receiving “complaints that student bodies and other organisations were resorting to rampant checking and raiding of shops and business establishments and seizing tobacoo products” and that some organisations were imposing fines on shops selling such products. It had asked the district administration to take action against such unauthorised raids and checking.

The business community said that the DC of Dimapur had, in an order addressed to the president of DCCI on June 15, stated that “shops selling cigarettes will ensure minimum six feet distance from each other, and also ensure that not more than five persons are present at one time at the shop”. It also stated that “no permission has been granted to any student bodies or organisations for raiding and seizing of tobacco products”.

“Therefore, DCCI would to remind organisations to take note of the DC’s order and to refrain unauthorized raiding and checking of shops in future. DCCI further appeals customers and shops selling cigarettes to strictly maintain social distancing as mentioned in the DC’s order,” the press release read.