With the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) leadership remaining undecided on how to respond to India’s unofficial blockade, commodity associations under the apex body organised a rally in Kathmandu on Tuesday against the southern neighbour’s embargo.

FNCCI Vice-president Dinesh Shrestha led a rally around Thamel demanding an end to Indian blockade and seeking unity among the Nepali people. However, the central leadership of the apex private sector body said that the event was not an official FNCCI gathering, indicating a division within the federation.

A source close to President Pashupati Murarka said he is against “irritating” India at this critical situation.

Since the blockade is a by-product of the domestic problem, Murarka told the Post, issues are better settled internally for ending the blockade.

Sources said the FNCCI leadership is divided over whether to oppose the blockade as some district chambers are participating in the Madhes movement.

“Siraha and Saptari district chambers, and the Lahan municipal chamber have been involved in the agitation. They are asking us to support the Madhes agitation,” said an FNCCI source. “On the other hand, there is strong pressure from others to oppose the banda and blockade.”

Shrestha, however, said 40 commodity associations and other groups attended Tuesday’s event. There are 95 commodity associations linked with the FNCCI.

“Banda may be organised for one or two days to mount pressure. But it has remained for three months, coupled with a blockade,” he said. “It’s unacceptable for businesspeople who have to pay bank loans and workers’ wages.”

He said they would raise the issue at the FNCCI executive committee seeking its move against the banda and border obstruction. Shrestha was elected vice-president from the group opposed to the Murarka faction.

The private sector body has said the country has incurred losses in billions of rupees—Rs2 billion each day in the last three months—due to the closure of the country’s main industrial belt. The FNCCI has appealed to both the government and the agitating parties to create an environment for the resumption of business