In the wake of continued closure of factories in some industrial estates over wage dispute, president of the Federation of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Kush Kumar Joshi, has said political interference has been a major stumbling block to industrial growth.

Addressing the inaugural function of the district convention of Narayangadh Chamber of Commerce and Industrials, in Narayangadh, on Monday, Joshi said that political parties have not been sensitive toward the problems facing the business sector. He even accused the political parties of espousing the causes of labour unions at the cost of industrial production.

“Parties remain as indifferent towards promoting the private sector as in the past,” he said, adding that industries have not been able to operate smoothly mainly due to political interference.

The FNCCI chief’s statement comes at a time when over two dozen industries in Birgunj-Pathlaiya corridor remain closed for the past four days with workers padlocking the factories demanding that the managements immediately raise the basic pay by Rs 1300, as agreed at a recent tripartite (government-managements and labour union) talks.

Minister for Industries, Astha Laxmi Shakya, was in Bara Sunday to inspect the closed industrial estate. During the visit, she met some leaders of labour unions and asked them to return to work considering the adverse impact a prolonged strike would cause on the economy.

Some factories in the industrial corridor have resumed operation following negotiations with the workers but two dozen industries including the multinational company Surya Nepal, still remain shut. nepalnews.com mk Dec 15 08

At a time parties are facing criticism for lack of unity in the constitution making process, Maoist central committee on Monday decided to bring nationalists and ‘republican’ forces into an alliance.

The political document of party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal which was passed by today’s central committee meeting calls for unity among republicans and nationalists to counter the ‘democratic alliance’ proposed by the Nepali Congress. Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the polarisation is necessary to tackle with ‘regressive forces’.

According to party spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the meeting unanimously endorsed Dahal’s document, which has also incorporated some ideas from a document tabled by senior leader Mohan Baidya at the recently held national cadres meet.

Mahara further said the party would spearhead, as per the proposal by Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, a four-month long nationwide campaign from Tuesday. The campaign is aimed at enhancing the literacy rate, political awareness, peace-building and expansion of the cooperatives for economic development that would indirectly help implement programmes laid out in the annual budget.

The issue of ‘one leader one post’ will be discussed in the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday. nepalnews.com ia Dec 15 08.

Nepali Congress Kaski district committee and Nepali Congress affiliated Nepal Student Union called for shutdown strike in the tourist town of Pokhara on Monday protesting the vandalism in a local campus.

Members of the Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Union (revolutionary) and CPN (UML) affiliated All Nepal National Free Student Union had allegedly valdalised the Janapriya Multiple Campus on Sunday demanding resignation of the campus chief. Furniture and office documents were burnt down during the vandalism.

Following the bandh call, there were reports of clashes between the bandh organisers and the police at some places, in which a few protesters were wounded. The police have arrested five agitators. Shops in main streets remain closed while the vehicular traffic has been hit in some areas of the tourist town. nepalnews.com ia Dec 15 08

Kumar Niraula, a senior assistant (Nayab Subba), working at the Inland Revenue Office in Janakpur was shot dead by cadres of the Rajan Mukti faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha Monday morning.

Niraula, 55, was shot at point blank range near Pidari Maisthan area at around 10:30 am when he was on his way to the office, reports quoting eyewitnesses said. He was shot in the chest and died while being treated at Janakpur Zonal Hospital.

Later, a leader of Rajan Mukti group who identified himself as Abhinash telephoned local journalists and claimed responsibility for the attack, insisting that Nirauala’s activities challenged the policies of the group.

The incident comes at a time when the government has initiated negotiation with the armed outfits operating in Terai, but Rajan Mukti group is one of few armed outfits that have rebuffed government’s talks offer.

In a recent telephone interview to a Kathmandu-based TV channel, Rajan Mukti said his group had not received the government’s invitation for talks, and declared that it would not go for “meaningless talks”. nepalnews.com mk Dec 15 08

The government has withdrawn serious charges leveled against political leaders and activists, reports Kantipur Daily.

In a controversial decision taken by the cabinet over a month and half ago, the government withdrew some 349 criminal cases that were under review at various courts across the country. Maoist leaders and cadres benefited the most through this decision.

The report said that as per the decision, charges as serious as rape to even drug smuggling which were leveled against some individuals have been withdrawn.

Rights activists have taken a serious exception to the government’s decision to withdraw serious criminal cases and have said that the move will only give rise to culture of impunity and lead to sharp increase in crimes.

As per a document obtained by the daily from the Ministry of Law, among the cases that have been withdrawn, 104 cases are related to robbery and 99 are related to homicide.

The report quoted a source as saying that the cases were withdrawn saying that it was filed against Maoist leaders and activists. nepalnews.com Dec 15 08

A senior leader of the major coalition partner Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has warned that his party could walk out of the government ‘if the Maoists do not correct their behaviour.’

Former general secretary of UML Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Former general secretary of UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, said, “There is interference in the working of UML ministers. They are asking why should we be a part of the government by bearing such interference.”

Speaking in Butwal, Sunday, Nepal said that the UML can choose to join the government by allying with any party after the coming general convention.

He also came down hard on the functioning of Maoist ministers whom he termed as ‘novices.’

“The people who voted for Maoists are now doubting their choice looking at the manner of functioning of Maoists,” he said. nepalnews.com sd Dec 15 08

Top entrepreneurs on Friday bemoaned that increasing industrial insecurity and labour disputes have cast blight on the entire economic situation of the country.

They said that waywardness of trade unions and the deteriorating business climate in the country have put a damper to the government’s proposition of economic revolution.

While speaking at a program held by National Business Initiative (NBI) in the capital, Kush Kumar Joshi, president of FNCCI (Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries) said that the business climate of the country is at its lowest ebb.

He also urged the government to take special initiatives to address the labour dispute which is crippling the business activities across the country.

Speaking on the same occasion, Padma Jyoti, president of NBI, remarked, “While labour dispute prevails between the investors and employees, the notion of economic revolution will be mere a slogan.”

Jyoti, who is also a leading industrialist, added that the prudent investment in infrastructural development is also important to propel the country towards the path of economic sustainability. nepalnews.com nd Dec 13 08

Owner of a discotheque at Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, was shot at by an unknown assailant Sunday evening.

Police said, Amit Lama, owner of Platinum disco, was shot by a man at the disco. The assistant fled the scene immediately after opening fire at Lama.

Lama, who received bullet injury in the leg, has been admitted to Bir Hospital for treatment.

The reason behind the attack was not immediately known.

For some time now, police have stepped up vigil in areas like Thamel and Durbarmarg where there are numerous discos where gang wars are very common. nepalnews.com Nov 09 08

Uttam Raj Thapa won the title of the 2nd Shankadhar Shakhwa Memorial Nationwide Open Chess Tournament on Saturday.

Thapa collected 7.5 points and 40.5 progressive points to win the title with 20,000 cash.

Purushottam Chaulagain clinched the second place and Prachanda Malakar stood third. Former Nepal champion Bilam Raj Shrestha could only clinch the fourth position.

In the ladies category, Monalisha Khambu clinched the title. nepalnews.com bt Dec 07 08

Hikmat Bahadur Mali has been elected the president of Nepal Automobile Sports Association (NASA) for a second term.

The General Assembly held on Saturday elected Mali and 17 other executive committee members unanimously. Dasrath Risal and Sanju Bajracharya have been elected as vice presidents. Meg Raj Poudel has been elected as secretary and Dipendra Kumar as treasurer.

Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Gopal Shakya had inaugurated the assembly. nepalnews.com bt Dec 07 08