KATHMANDU: Industrialists have asked the government to provide them security.

“If the government doesn’t beef up security in the country, the Marwari community will have to think of quitting the country,” said Marwari Sewa Samiti advisor Banwari Lal Mittal here today.

“We all have our property in Nepal,” he said adding

that the Marwari community has invested all its money here. “Our identification is due to our investment

in Nepal and the government should protect our lives and investment.”

Janakpur Marwari Sewa Samiti chairman and Janakpur Media Today Group owner Arun Singhaniya was shot dead in Janakpur two days ago. Singhaniya represented the Marwari community in journalism and it seemed to be the cause of the murder, they said. “The murderers want to remove the name of the Marwari community from journalism.”

“People are migrating

to foreign lands in search of jobs because there are not enough opportunities in

the country. The Marwari community is providing job opportunities to many people here and helping the country economically,” Marwari industrialists said.

“The government should come up with a policy to protect the lives and investment of the community as soon as possible,” said businessman Chiranjibi Agrawal. Describing the present condition of security, he said that no one knows for certain whether one will get back home or not in the evening.

“The country is celebrating Nepal Tourism Year 2011,” Agrawal said adding that

the present criminal activities won’t give a positive message to foreigners. He also suggested that the government show serious concern for security.

Marwari Sewa Samiti chairman Tola Ram Duggad said the government is urging foreigners to invest in Nepal, but it has failed to protect domestic business and local investors. “Industrialists are also fed up of the security situation and thinking of moving out of Nepal.”

Yesterday, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) — the umbrella organisation of the Nepali private sector — met with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and sought security for the business sector. However, hours later that evening another investor was shot at on the busy streets of Lazimpat.