Private sector for fresh CA polls

 KATHMANDU, FEB 22 -

Nine private sector bodies, including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FNCCI ), have said a fresh election is must to resolve the political stalemate.

Organising a press meet on Thursday, they underscored the need for a national consensus government to hold the new election. “For this, the main responsibility lies with the political parties,” they said. “The private sector once again expresses its commitment to the democratic system and free market economy.”

The private sector is of the view that the constitution should be written by holding a Constituent Assembly election through consensus among the parties. “For this, the parties should guarantee the election at the earliest,” they said.

They, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed nine-point deal among the parties, saying not a single word has been incorporated in the deal to address the country’s economic issues. “The private sector is in favour of holding a fresh Constituent Assembly election,” said FNCCI President Suraj Vaidya. “But economic agendas should not be ignored.”

The private sector bodies also stressed for consensus amongst the parties on the common minimum economic agenda. They also demanded timely budget presentation for the next fiscal year. “Development work has been stalled due to the presentation of the budget without policies and programmes for the last few years,” they said.

FNCCI ’s Senior Vice President Bhaskarraj Raj Karnikar stressed on the need for consensus among the parties at the time when the country has been gripped by rampant corruption, donation drive, capital flight, deteriorating rule of law and low production, among other issues.

Ichha Raj Tamang, president of Nepal Land and Housing Developers’ Association, said timely election was only solution to the current political crisis.

Jay Ram Lamichanne, president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, said the country’s economic growth has been projected to fall to 3.8 percent this year, while inflation is still in double digits. “The country’s economy is getting worse by the day as political actors are concentrated only on their parties’ agenda,” said Lamichanne.

Source: The Kathmandu Post