“We are always against shutdown and strikes that inflicts loss of billions of rupees on national economy. The private sector is ready to cooperate with the government to discourage such activities,” Suraj Vaidya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), said at an interaction organized at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Sunday. “But the government should assure us on security.” [break]
The MoF had invited private sector leaders for the meeting on the eve of the general shutdown.
The CPN-Maoist-led alliance has announced general strike on Monday followed by nine-day transport strikes across the country to foil the Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19.
Vaidya also urged the dissenting political parties to withdraw their strike saying that such activities will not only inflict loss on businesspeople but will also affect livelihood of poor farmers, daily wage earners and students among other sections of population. “Realizing adverse impacts of such strikes on national economy, they should withdraw the strike and avoid the situation of confrontation,” Vaidya added.
Narendra Basnyat, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), also urged the agitating parties to withdraw their protests stating that shutdown is not an appropriate solution.
Similarly, Surendra Bir Malakar, former president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC), sought security assurance from the government to continue business activities during the announced shutdown.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala urged business community to continue their business activities during the strike. “We have made fool-proof plan to foil any kinds of strikes and anti-election activities. The government will compensate business people for the loss incurred during the strike,” added Koirala.
Koirala also said there won´t be shortage of essential commodities such as petroleum products and food during the shutdown as the government has already maintained sufficient stock.
He also urged the agitating parties to call off the strike stating that the country suffers loss of at least Rs 2.5 billion every day during shutdown.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) has promised to provide police escort for trucks ferrying essential commodities such as vegetables, poultry products, milk, fish and fruits to the capital.
Minister for Agriculture Development Tek Bahadur Gharti said local police units along major highways will escort vehicles carrying such commodities.
At the meeting Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Metropolitan Police Commissioner´s Office, Bishwaraj Singh Shahi, said police personnel will escort vehicles carrying food commodities to Kathmandu during the strike.
Gita Prasad Acharya, former president of Vegetables Wholesaler´s Association at the Kalimati market, said farmers will harvest their crops only if they the government arranges safe passage for their produce to the market.
Sumit Kedia, vice-chairman of Nepal Dairy Association, also expressed willingness to operate dairy plants during the strike if the government assures them security.
Meanwhile, the MoAD has formed a cell headed by officiating MoAD secretary Prabhakar Pathak to look after operation and management of agro-products in the country.
Talking to Republica, Pathak said that cell, which has representatives from the directorates of livestock, agro market, vegetables and fruits, will meet every day and analyze nationwide supply of agro products and coordinate with other government agencies as and when required.
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