POL price hike sparks protests in Kathmandu; Maoists denounce the hike
The Maoists, student groups associated with communist parties and transport entrepreneurs have protested the government decision to hike the POL prices effective from Thursday.
The sister organisations affiliated to Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), including its student wing, organised protests in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu on Thursday morning saying the decision was not based on reality. The NWPP has said that the decision to hike the price of fuel was not made following understanding among seven parties – as has been claimed by the government.
The students organisations, demanded transparency in the Nepal Oil Corporation and slashing of commission given to the truck entrepreneurs for transportation.
Due to the protests, transportation in Kathmandu have been disrupted at some places.
Meanwhile, the Maoist-affiliated student wing All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary) organised an hour-long strike (chakkajam) in Kathmandu valley on Thursday afternoon between 2 and 3 pm to protest the price hike.
Spokesperson of the Maoists Krishna Bahadur Mahara has issued a statement condemning the government's decision to hike the fuel price. Mahara has said that the government should have controlled corruption and leakage within the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) instead of burdening the common people with price hike.
Mahara has asked the government to review the fuel price only after strictly controlling the inherent corruption, commission-system and leakage and only after reaching general consensus.
The government had decided on Wednesday to hike the prices of the POL products. nepalnews.com ia/sd Oct 25 07
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