GORKHA, Aug 26: The private sector which is supposed to promote free and competitive market enforced banda in Gorkha on Thursday.
The Gorkha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), district levels affiliate to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), enforced shutdown of the market on Thursday to protest detention of some traders. The traders were arrested by police on the basis of recommendations made by the Integrated Market Monitoring Mechanism (IMMM) on Tuesday on charges of selling government-subsidized chemical fertilizers at exorbitant prices.
However, the GCCI clamped down the market calling for unconditional release of the traders. It argued the traders were not aware of doing the act, for which they have been detained.
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“The government arrested the businessmen for mistakes made by them unknowingly,” Jiwan Jyoti Shrestha, the president of the GCCI. He termed the arrest of the businessmen on charges of black marketing as deplorable.
Three traders Ram Sharan Koirala, Anu Shrestha and Ishwar Shrestha were arrested on Tuesday after IMMM found that they were selling government subsidized fertilizer through their shop. The fertilizers were supposed to be availed to poor farmers through cooperatives. But the trio had been selling the fertilizers through their shop after obtaining it from cooperatives through illegal means.
Assistant Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma, said that the administration will not give into the GCCI's demands and will prosecute the trio under the black marketing act. “The administration arrested these businessmen with proof including transaction bills,” he said.
Meanwhile, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said the organization does not supports banda under any pretext. He, however, denied commenting on the banda enforced by the GCCI. “I am not aware of the developments surrounding the Gorkha banda at the moment and therefore not in a position to comment on it.”
