Protests against fuel price hike continue; shutdown strike cripples life in the Valley
The capital Kathmandu looked under siege for the second day Wednesday as student groups, trade unions and angry common citizens continued their protests in the streets in protest against the steep increase in the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas by the government on Monday.
The student wings of the seven political parties have been demonstrating before colleges, in main thoroughfares and streets in the valley and outer towns from early morning today, smashing dozens of vehicles that ignored their call to stay off the streets, blocking roads by burning tyres and demanding the resignation of Commerce, Industry and Civil Supplies Minister Shyam Sundar Gupta.
The protesters have said they would continue with the protest till the government withdraws its decision to hike the prices of essential fuels, the second in three months.
Protesters aren’t even allowing bicycles on the streets. In some places the agitators have even seized bicycles from their owners and burnt it.
The situation was further compounded by the valley-wide shutdown called by the CPN (Unified) today in protest of the government’s decision to hike fuel prices.
On Monday, the government raised the price of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas by up to 20 percent to cut losses of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), inviting angry protests across the country the next day. This decision also gave premise to the transporters to unilaterally hike the transport fare by 25 percent with effect from Wednesday.
Although the capital city and major towns across the country looked like a battleground yesterday with protesters clashing with the police, NOC has said that the government would not relent. Several people were injured in yesterday’s protest.
By noon the traffic in Kathmandu had come to a complete halt with some parts wearing a deserted look. However, ambulances and vehicles belonging to press and the diplomatic corps were not stopped by protesters from plying.
All banks, offices and shops were closed at the main city center and those that remained open in outlaying areas were also forcibly closed by the protesters.
Similarly they also threw stones at riot police in various places in the capital city including Chabahil, Koteshwor, Kalanki and Gongabu. Our reporters covering the protests say some people were injured in the clashes with the police as the latter resorted to force to dispel the crowd. Over a dozen protesters have been arrested from protests.
Journalists covering the news were also mistreated by protesters.
Meanwhile, reports coming in say that students also staged protests in Pokhara, Butwal, Biratnagar, Chitwan and other major towns. In Chitwan, protesters have obstructed Mahendra Highway by burning tyres and placing road blocks after shutting down shops, markets and educational institutions. Similarly, Araniko Highway has also been obstructed due to demonstrations in Kavre. There are also reports of protests in Terai districts like Rautahat, Bara, and Saptari. nepalnews.com ag Jan 23 08
