KATHMANDU, JUN 18--The talk between the government and agitating jewellers ended inconclusively on Tuesday. During the talk, Narayan Prasad Bidari, director general of the Department of Commerce and Supply Management had asked the traders to stop their protest and return to daily business.
Since new commerce secretary is yet to assume office, jewellers had sit for talk with the Commerce Department. “Our talk ended without reaching any conclusion, after the jewellers put their demands unreasonably and refused to stop the protest,” said Hari Narayan Belbase, director of the Department of Commerce and Supply Management. He added their demand to stop the action on jewellers found involved in cheating customers held no ground.
Jewellery shops across the country have remained closed since last Wednesday hitting hard the customers at the time of wedding season. Two organisation of the gold and silver dealers— the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Associations (Fenegosida) and the Federation of Nepal Gold, Silver, Gem and Jewellery Associations have been demanding the government not to take action on jewellers found guilty and introduce monitoring and jewellery trading directive at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the draft of directive on jewellery trading and market monitoring has been sent to the Commerce Ministry for endorsement. Once the Commence Ministry approves the draft, it will be sent to the Cabinet for final approval and implementation.
After the government intensified inspection drive on jewellery shops, jewellers had demanded new directive to regulate the local jewellery market. Jewellers have stated that the talk held at the commence department on Tuesday was “positive” regarding their demands.
“The decision weather or not to return to business opening the jewellery shops will depend on the talk slated for Thursday with new secretary of the Commerce Ministry,” said Manik Ratna Shakya, general secretary of the Fenegosida.
Meanwhile, both the jewellers’ organisations were also organising joint national convention on Wednesday. The convention to be attended by around 100 top central and district level representative of gold and silver dealers associations’ is schedule to discuss on the government’s move, their business operation, code of conduct and the new directive proposed by the government. The jewellers said that meeting would also come up with a declaration.
The department has said that it is committed to take action on each jewellers found in misconduct. “We will soon file case against three jewellers—Shree Ganapani Jewellers, RB Diamonds and Tejmin Jewellers,” said Belbase. He said that they were also calling proprietors of other jewellery shops inspected for taking statement and proceeds further for filing case in the district court based on the Consumer Rights Protection Act.
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