After the business community's announcement of 'decisive protest', Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday has invited agitating businessmen for talks. In the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the PM also instructed Home Minister to maintain security and take action against the lawbreakers.
However, industrialists have said that they would not go in talks without formal invitation. Stating that there was no trust in the words of political leaders, the agitators said they would continue the protest until the government go into action on their demands.
The agitating businessmen and the industrialists have declared that ongoing movement would be the last and decisive one. Addressing the mass gathering at Basantapur Darbar square of the capital on Tuesday, they said they would continue agitating until the government would go to an action rather than ‘false’ commitment'.
Addressing the mass, President of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCC) Chandi Raj Dhakal said that this agitation would be the last one resulting in success. He also stated the business community took to the street for the establishment of rule of law.
Another industrialist Binod Kumar Chaudhari accused seven political parties, Maoist and the government of doing underestimate to the industrial sectors grievances. He also strongly demanded the maintenance of security.
On the occasion, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Surendra Bir Malakar, Nepal Bar Association’s former president Shambhu Thapa, Prakash Shrestha, Umesh Shrestha, , Dr. Sudha Sharma and Yogendra Shakya, among others addressed the gathering.
The gathering of businesspersons converted to a city rally which concluded at Maitighar in the capital. Business community was irked after Maoist cadres affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) beat up two businessmen after abducting them from Kathmandu two three days ago. The industrialists were more offensive to the government when they fail to get PM’s presence in Baluwatar on Monday for meet.
The Industrialists have demanded immediate end of abduction, vandalism, extortion, padlocking, maintenance of security and punishment to those involved in the criminal act, and assurance of conducive environment to operate business and withdrawal of property seized by the Maoists.
There was a wide participation in the mass meeting and rally. Total 71 organizations both- professional and business have expressed solidarity in businessmen’s agitation.
Strike affects life
The general strike called by the business community for an indefinite period affected life on Tuesday. All industries, factories, import-export, education institutions, transport, and businesses remained closed through out the country.
More than 70 organizations including the FNCCI, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) halted all their operations.
Life in Kathmandu saw a disruption in daily activities as most of the shops in marketplaces were shut down and vehicular movement was disturbed on the streets.