Businessmen have announced shutdown strike in all industries and businesses in the capital from 3 pm on Monday protesting the Maoist attacks, threat and extortion.

Industrialists and businessmen, who reached the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minster demanding security, announced the shutdown strike through a press conference in front of the PM’s residence.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, the umbrella organisation of business community, and Binod Chaudhari, president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) announced the strike.

The agitating businessmen said they would close all industries, export and import, education institutions, banks, transport and air services from 3 pm while the protest would come into effect across the country from Tuesday.

They also staged a sit-in at the main entrance of the PM’s residence demanding that the government immediately address their demands.

Earlier, businessmen organised a sit in at Durbarmarg for about 30 minutes. They took to the streets a day after the Maoists abducted and thrashed Hari Shrestha, the owner of Hotel Woodlands at Durbar Marg, for not providing Rs 2 million donation.

Meanwhile, the FNCCI has lashed out at the government for doing nothing to address the security threats to the private sector ventures and the entrepreneurs.

In a press statement, FNCCI said the government’s indifference towards the demands of the private sector became clear when the Prime Minister denied meeting to a delegation of private sector entrepreneurs.

The FNCCI and 72 other business organisations demanded that the Prime Minister and the eight political parties express commitment to work towards ending the extortion and attacks on the business sector, guarantee security to private sector businesses, and punish those involved in attacks and extortion.

Warning of stronger protest programmes, the FNCCI declared that the indefinite strike would continue unless the Prime Minister and the eight parties expressed formal commitment to immediately address the demands of the business sector.

Meanwhile, Young Entrepreneur’s Council has also expressed solidarity with the protest program organised by FNCCI and CNI. Rajendra Khetan, president of the council, said they wanted the seven parties, government and the Maoists to become serious and pay attention to the plight of the business community.

On the other hand, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat while expressing sympathy over the demands raised by the business community, expressed surprise over the announcement of strike without consulting with the government.

A leading human rights organisation INSEC, too, has condemned the Maoist action against businessmen. It has urged the Maoist leadership to take action against the culprits and make it public.