Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) has appealed to all Naga Political Groupws(NPGs) to understand the plight of business community and abstain from collection of any form of taxes from them.
KCCI reiterated that any forceful collection under threat and intimidation was extortion. It explained that taxation was a means by which a government financed its expenditure (development, creating jobs, promotion of trade and commerce etc) by imposing charges on citizens and corporate entities.
However, KCCI said in Nagaland, the abnormal trend of unabated taxation by multiple/mushrooming factions of NPGs has gone beyond a level of tolerance and adversely affected trade and commerce in the region.
The business community in Kohima and other parts of the state have been bearing the brunt of taxation for too long to feed various groups at the expense of people’s wellbeing.
KCCI pointed out that instead of realising the sufferings of the community, taxation, intimidation, extortion, corruption etc were raised to new repulsive heights to the extent that business houses were literally dying due to payment of taxes to sustain multiple Naga political groups.
KCCI said even though, the trading community been running from pillar to post to obtain relief for its grievances and this has led to a situation where many enterprising youths, families, individuals have gone bankrupt due to excessive taxations. KCCI said despite more than half a century of statehood, the trading community has failed to prosper or secure a better future for their near and dear ones or help in the economic growth of the state.
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