Even as hotel operators were planning to close down their hotels in next few days to show solidarity with business community’s agitation, the Maoist-affiliated hotel workers’ union members have started forcing the staffers out saying they would close it instead.

Hotels shut down: Employees of the Hotel Radisson forced out after pro-Maoist hotel workers locked it along with other star hotels in the capital, Wednesday. Nepalnews.com/rh

At a time when the business community is in agitation demanding security following attacks against businessmen and hoteliers, Maoist-affiliated union members have forcefully asked hotel staffs out on Wednesday morning.

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

Yogendra Shakya, a renowned hotelier and former president of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), told nepalnews that efforts were being made to put businessmen in difficulty. “The intention seems to be to create trouble,” he said informing that groups of workers – suspected to be affiliated with union close to Maoists – were saying that they would close it ahead if the hoteliers plan to close it down within a week.

“We had actually announced to close down hotels (to show solidarity with business community) within seven days to reduce inconvenience to our guests. I don’t know what will happen to the guests with this new development. I don’t see anybody serious about the situation of security or the situation of economy,” Shakya added.

Meanwhile, Madhav Shrestha, executive director of HAN, told nepalnews that “few workers had gone out on rallies.” He denied that hotels were shut down. “They are not shut down. They are in operation,” he said.

On the other hand, defending the lock ups, Yubaraj Dulal, a member of workers union unit of Hotel Shangrila told nepalnews that they had to do so because the hoteliers themselves were planning to shut hotels down. The Maoists have been accusing Shrestha of being anti-employees and royalist. They have criticised the business community for launching agitation to defend “such persons.”