Birgunj, May 17:

The donation collection drive, intensified by the Maoists for the past few days, has terrified the industrialists based in Bara and Parsa, the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) said, adding the Maoists had begun expanding their trade unions in industries and seeking cadres’ appointment in them.

BCCI chairman Bijay Kumar Sarawagi said the Maoists are pressurising 250 industries of Bara and Parsa to appoint their cadres. Secretary of the Maoist-affiliated ANTUF-R, Rajan Timilsina, denied pressing for appointment of Maoist activists. “We are already short of activists. How can we call for appointment of our cadres in industries?”

The Maoists have reportedly forced a number of industries, including Apex Pharmaceuticals, Nepal Boarders, Jagadamba Steel, Triveni Group and Hulas Group, New Anil Textiles, Megha Soap, Rajesh Metal and United Brewery at Hetauda to appoint their activists and demanded the industries to make donations. They locked Jagadamba Steel and Rajesh Metal Crafts after the firms paid no heed to their demands.

The industrialists accused the Maoists of threatening them. The ANTUF-R reportedly pressurised the United Brewery to dismiss incumbent chairman of the Workers’ Union Krishna Magar and appoint Govinda Dhakal as chairman. The Maoists padlocked the brewery yesterday after the management paid no heed to their demand.

Stating that industries cannot survive if they have to pay tax to the government and Maoists, Sarawagi said, “Businessmen will be forced to move out if their problems are not resolved soon.”