Dimapur, March 15 (MExN): The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has questioned the “deafening silence” of the State Government over the recent ban imposed on sale of tobacco purportedly by the NSCN/GPRN (Khango).
“While the CNCCI in no way endorses or promote tobacco consumption, the CNCCI demands the state government to clarify whether it is a banned substance or legal product that are being sold in the market as GST are being collected from the sale of tobacco products,” it stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The CNCCI asserted that the “state government must also come out in public as to whether they are the authority to regulate such matters or is being delegated.” Further, the CNCCI dares the government to tell Naga people whose authority and governance the Naga public should follow, as there are such multiple and overlapping orders and bans contrary to the state government orders, the release stated.
“In the eventuality of inability on the part of the state government to clarify on these matters, the business community will have no choice but to take it as a governance failure in Nagaland,” it added.
Meanwhile, the release stated that CNCCI appreciates and fully support the good intention of NSCN-K to impose ban on illegal drugs which is already banned internationally and alcohol by the state government.
However, it said that tobacco products are being legally sold with proper license and after paying due sales tax in the form of GST to the state government; “Therefore the CNCCI put forth to the NSCN-GPRN (Khango) to ensure that tobacco products are delisted from the purview of ban.”
The release issued by the CNCCI Media Affairs further stated that the business community dearly supports the early Indo-Naga political settlement and requested various Naga Political Groups to direct their energy and resources to bring in early Indo-Naga political settlement. The business community have and will continue to extend their goodwill and full support to realise the goal of early Indo-Naga political settlement, it added.
