Kathmandu, February 4:

Human rights activist Malla K Sundar said today that the seven-day bandh called by the Maoists from tomorrow could be called off if the King vowed to hold talks with the Maoists.

He urged all to solve the problem than superficially criticising the bandh called to disrupt the civic polls.

Addressing an interaction at the Reporters’ Club, Malla said, “No matter who has called the bandh, the situation is taking the whole country to close itself down.”

He said that the unconstitutional state is forcefully provoking the civilians to go for forceful protest programmes as it has prohibited people even holding programmes outside prohibited areas. He called the industrialists to come up with clear vision, whether they support democracy or autocratic regime.

Surendra Bir Malakar, vice-chairman of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said the industrialists do not belong to any of political wings and the institution will not urge anybody whether to open their industries or not during the seven-day bandh.

He accused the human rights activists of speaking the language of political parties. Birendra Thapaliya, who represents the transportation sector in FNCCI, said there is little chance of public vehicle plying on the street during the bandh because the drivers are not ready to take risk.

He added: “As insurance companies have stated that they would not refund our insured amount if our vehicles are damaged, the entrepreneurs are not ready to take the risk.”

Similarly, Hom Prasad Adhikari of the Free Trade Union Federation, said the government has not given compensation to any of the vehicles damaged in bandh days, though it now and then states that compensation will be given immediately.

Asked whether public vehicles will ply during bandh, he only said, “Buses and police are together,” without elaborating what he meant.

Umesh Shrestha, chairman of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation-Nepal (PABSON), said that the schools have not announced closure but “We will call the students only if terror-free environment is created.”

“There have been blasts in over two dozen schools in similar circumstances but the government is yet to provide us compensation. The government has pressed us to run schools and assured us compensation, but the practice is just the opposite,” he said.

Prakash Shrestha, chairman of the Hotel Association of Nepal, said the bandh is going to have a long-term effect in the country’s tourism industry.

“The bandh should be called off as it is going to be ‘suicidal’ to the growing tourism industry of Nepal,” he said. Rupa Shrestha, a central member of the Consumers’ Forum Nepal, said: “All the consumers have to unite to fight against the bandh culture.”

Maoists damage bridges

Lekhanath: Maoists damaged two bridges at Kotre of Dulegauda Village Development Committee of Tanahun along the Prithvi highway last night. Traffic was disrupted for some hours after the incident, but it resumed this morning after stones wre spread on the stream.

Of the two bridges, one has been partially damaged using a dozer while the other was completely destroyed by detonating bombs, locals said.

The Maoists have also constructed a wall on the Majuwa road section of Lekhnath municipality to obstruct traffic. But the vehicles are plying on the road, locals said. The Maoists had detonated four bombs at the Kotre area last night, according to the locals. Security personnel have been dispatched to the incident site, Gagangaunda-based security sources, said. — HNS