Kathmandu, August 20
The Nepal government today withdrew the recent fuel price hike after two days of violent protests in Kathmandu and other parts of the country which left six people injured in clashes.After a Cabinet meeting, the government today instructed the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to revoke its earlier decision to increase prices of the petroleum products and cooking gas by up to 25 per cent, a senior minister told PTI.
The turnaround came hours after demonstrators, including Maoist cadre, clashed with police, blocked traffic and stoned vehicles in different parts of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and other parts of the country for the second consecutive day following Friday’s decision to increase the prices of the petroleum products.
Dozens of vehicles were damaged and traffic was disrupted as the angry agitators burnt tyres and pelted stones.
Six persons were injured when police baton-charged the protesters, eyewitnesses said.
The government also formed a three-member committee headed by former Finance Secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya to study matters relating to pricing of petroleum products and financial status of Nepal Oil Corporation.
The committee will have to submit its report about the market situation of petroleum products within a month.
— PTI
