Shops and business establishments remained closed across the state on Friday as part of ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) demanding a review of the provisions of the goods and services tax (GST) regime.
When contacted, the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) chairman Dr. Khekugha Muru told Nagaland Post that the 10-hour bandh was total and peaceful in all the eleven districts of the state.
Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) president Akashe Zhimomi, said that Dimapur witnessed closure of all business establishments from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while pharmacies and medical dealers had downed shutters from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Akashe maintained that if there was no positive response from the government, there was very much likely of another bandh in the near future.
In the state capital, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) enforced the bandh successfully. Addressing the media, KCCI general secretary Akhrieü Mor said the bandh called by CAIT was to pressure the government to review the GST system.
She said the basic objective of GST was to have one nation one tax where common business people could easily file their returns. However, along the way, she said it was found that the tax regime was not as easy as it sounds.
Therefore, she said the business community was trying to pressure the government to review system and make GST system simpler.
Joining the traders across the country, the Kiphire Town Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KTCCI) and Zunheboto Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ZCCI) also enforced ‘Bharat Vyapar Bandh’ from 6am to 4pm.