Kathmandu. Former treasurer of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, has expressed strong concern over the crackdown on the private sector and the behavior of the state. “The state mechanism has put businessmen in jail without any basis, ignoring the contribution of industrialists and entrepreneurs to the country’s economy and development,” he said.

“The private sector is not only running industries but also playing an integral role in the overall development of the country,” he said. He reminded that the government employees, political leadership and the entire state mechanism were being run by the tax paid by the entrepreneurs.

“The government employees and leaders are fed by the taxes we pay. “But the state has created an environment to put us in jail,” he said. ’

Stating that an atmosphere of fear has been created in recent times that industrialists can be arrested at any time, he stressed that the private sector should strongly resist such a move of the state. He argued that the arrest of businessmen without any fault would spoil the investment climate and lower the morale of the private sector. Pradhan said that in the present situation, the entrepreneurs should unite and raise voice against the arbitrary steps of the state.