KATHMANDU: Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC) has asked the government to give it a week to put up price lists in wholesale and retail shops. NCC president Surendra Bir Malakar along with other businessmen met Minister for Supplies (MoS) Rajendra Mahato and sought a week’s time.

The government is doing wrong, Malakar said flaying the government’s intervention

in the market. “Sealing the godowns without consulting the private sector has created havoc,” he said. He also accused the government of using ‘black marketeers’ to target businessmen whose warehouses were sealed on Sunday.

“The government wants to establish that all businessmen are black marketeers. What is the purpose of bringing the media along on raids?” he asked. Malakar said the words ‘black market’ and ‘black marketeers’ should not be used.

He, however, agreed to keep price-lists in shops and said, “We just need more time.

The deadline given by the Department of Commerce is too short.” On Friday, DoC had told retail shopkeepers to put up price-lists in their respective shops within three days.

Minister Mahoto agreed to allow a week’s time for putting up price-lists in shops. MoS

secretary Prushttom Ojha said the market intervention would not be stopped.

“Growing adulteration and artificial price hike has force the government to intervene in the market,” he said. He urged businessmen to be transparent in their dealings.