Businessmen protest against Maoists

Businessmen of Morang-Sunsari corridor continued their protests Wednesday against the Maoists, charging that the CPN-Maoist cadres continued their excesses against the business community despite joining the government. 

They disobeyed the lock out called by the Maoist affiliated workers and even broke open the padlocks put in place at the gates of their industries by workers.

Young Communist League (YCL) and workers union affiliated to the CPN-Maoist had announced an indefinite lock out for private vehicles Tuesday night, placing eight-point demands.

However, the businessmen defied the lock out and organized a car rally, which began from Morang Trade Association (MTA) office and ended on reaching Roadcess chowk.

As the rally moved on, they also broke open the padlocks put in place by workers on Pioneer Wire Industries, and padlocked it with their own locks. At the time of the incident, police personnel had stopped Maoist affiliated drivers and workers from clashing with the protesting businessmen.

The businessmen took to the streets after the YCL and Maoist affiliated workers beat Shyam Sundar Sarada, promoter of Sarada Group of Industries and padlocked his industry Tuesday.

The Maoists claimed they took such an action because Sarada allegedly helped in the kidnapping of one of their members, while Sarada Group denied the charge.

Although Maoist cadres, at an all-party meeting Tuesday, agreed to hold a fair inquiry on the case, open the padlocked industries and withdraw the strike, they refused to stand by the agreement Wednesday.

Instead, they attacked private vehicles plying on the streets in the morning.

Irked business community later held joint meeting of MTA, Morang Industries Association, Eastern Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Biratnagar Trade Association, Nepal Young Entrepreneurs Forum and Young Entrepreneurs Forum and decided to protest the excesses.

“We have decided to launch an indefinite trade and manufacturing strike from Sunday. If the government continues to ignore our calls for providing security, we will submit keys of some 500 industries located along the corridor to Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat on Tuesday,” said Jivan Nepal, president of MTA.

Meanwhile, issuing a joint statement, MTA and Morang Industries Association have requested the government to seriously investigate the case of Sarada and punish the wrongdoers.