The Federation of Nepalis Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is set to organize goodwill mass gathering – National Harmony Gathering - with an aim of boosting  social harmony at Basantapur, Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The federation has announced mass gathering for peace, harmony and prosperity in the country as the frequent Nepal bandhs (shutdowns), strikes and protest called by different ethnic groups, organisations, among others have hampered the social harmony in the country.

According to FNCCI, the mass gathering will have the participation of Nepal Chambers of Commerce along with other industries association, Higher Secondary School’s Association Nepal, Private and Boarding School’s Organisation, Federation of Nepalese Journalist, Media Society, Television Broadcasters’ Nepal, Nepal Bar Association, Hotel Association of Nepal, human rights organisations among others.

The mass gathering is set to start at 5 pm on Wednesday with lighting candles at Basantapur.

The gathering will also focus on the slogans regarding stopping frequent shutdowns, timely constitution, peace and prosperity, national unity with harmony among others.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress affiliated Nepal Students´Union (NSU) and Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD) and UML aligned All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNFSU) and Youth Association of Nepal (YAN) have also announced a massive rally “for peace, constitution, harmony and unity” on May 23.

Organizing a press meet at the Reporters´ Club on Monday, representatives of the organisations condemned the misbehavior and attacks on media persons and their vehicles by banda enforcers.

Chairman of the ANNFSU, Madhav Dhungel, Chairman of YAN, Mahesh Basnet, Chairman of the Nepal Tarun Dal, Uday Shamsher Rana and President of NSU, Ranjit Karna requested all organizations to observe restraint while organising their programmes.

Similarly, the Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industry (FNCSI) has said that the continuous strikes called by different groups just ahead of Constituent Assembly deadline has plunged the country's economy in serious crisis, RSS reports.

Issuing a press statement, the Federation expressed concern saying that problem of unemployment was becoming acute due to strikes and the country was bearing billions of rupees of loss everyday as all industries and factories were shut.

The Federation has also stated that black marketing and sky-rocketing price of the commodities were rampant due to lack of smooth supply of goods. nepalnews.com