Following the announcement of indefinite strike by the business community, the Home Ministry has issued a statement appealing for the withdrawal of bandh.

In the statement, the Ministry has promised to provide adequate security to businesses and industries.

The Ministry has also stated that the government has positively noted the business community’s concerns about intimidation, abductions, vandalism, looting, extortion and lock-ups of factories.

On the other hand, Maoist chairman Prachanda has also urged the business community not to launch strikes and bandhs “in the name of dispute between workers and an employer.”

Claiming that his party has no policy of attacking businessmen, Prachanda said that the incident of attack against Hari Shrestha of Woodland Hotel was primarily a matter between workers and the employer. “As per our information, the incident occurred after the employer did not implement his commitments towards the workers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 72 business organisations led by Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) have called the indefinite strike in businesses, industries, educational institutions, banks, transport and all private sector enterprises following the Maoist abduction and attack against a hotelier in Kathmandu.

On Tuesday also, the Internet Service Providers Association of Nepal (ISPAN) has announced to shut down internet connection in the country between 10 am and 11 am and 3 pm and 4 pm as a show of protest. Expressing solidarity with the business community, the ISPAN had shut down the connection between 4 pm and 5 pm on Monday also.