Business community announces indefinite shutdown, Prachanda promises 'action'

Agitating business community on Monday, has announced an indefinite shutdown of all industries, factories, import-export, education institutions, transport, business and air services in Kathmandu from 3 pm Monday, protesting against Maoists' treat, attacks and extortion.

This shutdown was announced by Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Binod Chaudhary, president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) at a press conference organised outside the official residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The agitating businessmen also said that the protest would come into effect across the country from Tuesday.

They also staged a sit-in at the main entrance of the PM's residence demanding the government to create conducive environment to operate the business securely.

Earlier, hundreds of businessmen took to the streets and organised a sit in at Durbarmarg protesting Maoists' attack on a hotel entrepreneur Hari Shrestha, the owner of Hotel Woodlands at Durbarmarg, for not paying 2 million donation.

The protest program was jointly organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).
 
A press statement issued by FNCCI said the government's indifference towards the demands of the private sector became clear when the PM denied meeting to a delegation of private sector entrepreneurs.

The FNCCI and 70 other business organisations demanded that the Prime Minister and the eight political parties express commitment to work towards ending the extortion and attacks on the business sector, guarantee security to private sector businesses, and punish those involved in attacks and extortion.

Warning of stronger protest programmes, the FNCCI declared that the indefinite strike would continue unless the Prime Minister and the eight parties expressed formal commitment to immediately address the demands of the business sector.

Meanwhile, spokesman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has said that his party has no policy of harassing businessmen.

"This incident did not happen at the direction of our party," he said.

Maoist chairman Prachanda has also said that his party is against such incidents.

"I have directed immediate action against whoever is responsible," said Prachanda hinting that his party cadres may be responsible. "We have taken the incident seriously."