Maoists affiliated union cut water, electricity and gas supply to hotels

The activists of the Maoists affiliated trade unions have forced out the staffers of the most the hotels of the capital. They have also cut water, electricity and gas supplies to the hotels including Hotel Everest and Hotel Radisson Wednesday morning.

The activists also organized a rally in the capital in the morning demanding action against hotelier Hari Shrestha. After Shrestha and another printing press entrepreneur Suresh Malla were abducted and physically thrashed, the business community had announced indefinite strike demanding security.

Chairman of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Prakash Shrestha said the Maoist trade union activists created terror in the hotels this morning by forcefully evicting staffers after cutting the water, gas and electricity supplies to the hotels.

Maoist-affiliated union members have forcefully asked hotel staffs out at a time when hoteliers have been backing business community's agitation against Maoist excesses.

HAN chairman Shrestha said guests in the hotels have been terrorized by the Maoist trade union’s move. After the incident, hoteliers and businessmen met with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula. According to Shrestha, Sitaula promised to mobilize police but the hoteliers urged him to find political solution to the problem.

Business people and hoteliers also met with Home Minister and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at latter's residence at Baluwatar. However, meeting failed to reach any agreement to end the problem. The PM promised to take the issue to eight parties and invited the hoteliers to meet him again at 3 pm, Shrestha said.