Kohima: A 12-hour Bandh enforced by the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) under the aegis of the Naga Council in Dimapur, the Kohima Town Traders Union (KTTU) and Zunheboto Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ZCCI) respectively, has been affecting the normal life of this capital town of Kohima, Dimapur and Tuensang since 0600 hours Tuesday morning.
According to sources, all business establishments and shops, including medicine shops, chemists and druggists are keeping their shutters down to protest against ‘unabated taxation’ in Nagaland.
This is the first stage of agitation as planned by the ACAUT.
Schools and other educational institutions in Kohima, Dimapur and Tuensang also remain closed to show solidarity.
The KTTU bandh covered only the business establishment within Kohima town and requested all its members and other traders to cooperate in the symbolic bandh.
However, there is no ban on vehicular movement in both the towns and the ban does not apply to other districts of the State.
The ZCCI has also supported the ACAUT movement against unabated taxation and said it has initiated the bandh by closing down the shutters of all business establishments and goods trucks from dawn to dusk.
In a joint press release issued by ZCCI President Shikahoto Jakha, General Secretary Mito Yeptho, Assistant General Secretary Inato Muru and Press Secretary Kughato K Sumi last night informed all shops, business and commercial establishments to cooperate positively.
The movement of vehicular traffic has been excluded, whereas, all the commercial vehicles such as trucks, mini trucks have been informed not to ply during the bandh period.
However, all the banks branches and Government offices remained open in all bandh-affected district headquarters of Kohima, Dimapur and Tuensang, sources said.
The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) has observed Black Flag Day to express solidarity with Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), under the aegis of the Naga Council Dimapur.
A release issued by MCCI President Moasangba Jamir and Information Secretary Limalenden Longkumer last evening said that all business establishments in and around Mokokchung Town has displayed black flag in their respective premises to mark the day, in tandem with the symbolic bandh in Dimapur initiated by ACAUT on Tuesday in agitation against heavy taxation that continues to burden people of Nagaland.
The Wokha District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WDCCI) had also directed all business establishments and shops within Wokha District to put black flag in their shop so as to show solidarity and support ACAUT’s one-day Dimapur bandh for not fulfilling demands against illegal taxation.
WDCCI further resolved to fully support the ACAUT any decision made and take next course of steps.
ACAUT co-convener L Supong Ao said vehicular movement was exempted from the purview of the bandh.
ACAUT had requested all Chambers of Commerce in other districts to express solidarity to the bandh call.
However, confusion reigned in the state capital with most of the business establishments remaining closed following the call from Kohima Town Traders Union (KTTU) while some opened as the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) has asked the shops to open.
KCCI president Chris Kire talking to media persons said “we support the ACAUT in their fight against illegal taxation, because of which we have directed the shops to remain open but put up black flags as a sign of solidarity and support.”
The ACAUT plans to further pursue the issue of taxation on a wider scale by forming a fact finding committee to study and compare price of commodities in Nagaland and Assam, meet the Chief Minister and the Governor and submit a representation to the judiciary of Dimapur.
However, reports from the other district headquarters are still awaited, official sources said. (Agecnies)