Nagaland: KCCI asks business community for solidarity against intimidation

Dimapur: The Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) urged the business community in Kohima, Nagaland to extend solidarity to the public rally organised by the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO).

The business community has been asked to support the rally by closing their shops and business establishments during the duration of the rally and also attend it at Old MLA Hostel junction, Phoolbari, in Kohima at 11 am on August 6.

The AYO called the rally in Kohima in protest against illegal taxation, harassment, intimidation and death threats to the common people.

The KCCI expressed shock over the recent death threat issued by the NSCN (Khango) to K Rulho, proprietor of KKB Rulho, who is a bonafide member of KCCI.

“This decree has enraged and traumatised the business community over the odds as through the decades, the business community is one amongst the few sections from whom the Naga political groups (NPGs) have realised monetary contributions to fund its day-to-day activities,” the KCCI said in a statement.

However, it said, instead of acknowledging the contributions, the business community has been made to bear the brunt of uncountable harassment, intimidations, physical assaults and death threats from the multitudes of the NPGs’ indulgence in forms of unabated taxations, periodical collections and day-to-day demands.

The KCCI said the present trend of extorting monetary resources from the business community, contractors and suppliers, public servants, public etc., will be counterproductive in the long run.

“The resulting ramification thereof will do a huge damage to the Naga national movement and even the very fabric of the society,” it added.

The traders’ body also made a fervent appeal to all the NPGs not to resort to making arbitrary decisions which imperil the physical well-being of the individual or parties. It also urged the NSCN (Khango), in particular, to revoke the death threat against Rulho at the earliest.