Kathmandu, August 17:

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) today urged the government to put an end to the illegal syndicate system and warned of launching a strong protest programme throughout the nation, if its demands was not addressed by the government within seven days.

“Though we are demanding our rights, the government is not paying heed. If it does not wakes up to the issue, we are all set to launch a strong protest program after a week,” said FNCCI president Kush Kumar Joshi during a -press meet here today.

It is now 56 days that the entire business sector including industrial houses are protesting against the monopoly system of syndicates. Today is also the eight day that business people from the Western Development Region and Far Western Development Region are staging a protest at Mandala but the government is indifferent.

According to Kailali Chambers of Commerce representative Mohan Raj Sharma, workers in general lack security though escort is given after they agitate for it. Sharma said there were many drivers who had been assaulted while on duty. “Workers are are threatened and mentally tortured for working. Security is not being provided to us, the security forces are apathetic,” he complained.

Joshi also focused on several unpleasant events that occurred even after businessmen’s meeting with former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on August 11. He said that though FNCCI reresentatives met the former PM and complained about the problem of the syndicate system the problem was not addressed and workers in the Central and Far western development regions, especially in transportation sector, were extremely affected.

“We are repeatedly making phone calls to the Secretary to the Home Ministry but no one answers the phone,”Joshi alleged and added, “We should get compensation and the guilty persons should be punished.”

He added, “We are ready to call off our protest. There is an investment of Rs 45 billion in the transportation sector. We do not want to trouble common people but if our voice is not heard byt the government we will have to launch a most hard-hitting protest programme.”