Nepal Govt revokes fuel price rises after angry protests
NEPAL: Nepal's government cancelled price rises for gasoline and
other fuel after two days of widespread protests crippled the capital, a
minister said.
"The cabinet meeting decided to roll back the price to the previous
rate after days of protests by people and MPs' criticism," Hridayesh
Tripathi, minister for commerce, industry and supplies, told AFP.
At Sunday's parliamentary sitting MPs demanded the immediate
withdrawal of the price increases which they called an "anti-people"
move.
"The government has formed a three-member committee which will submit
its report within a month in order to hike the price of petroleum
products," Tripathi said.
"The committee will recommend to the government how to adjust the
petroleum prices as per the international market and suggest reforms
needed in the management of the Nepal Oil Corp before announcing the
price hike next time."
Demonstrations broke out throughout the city of 1.5 million Saturday
and Sunday as hundreds burned tyres and shouted slogans calling on the
government to revoke the increases.
Two government-owned motorcycles were torched and six vehicles were
vandalised on Sunday, police said. Businesses in the city shut on both
days.
The government late Friday raised the price of petrol, diesel,
kerosene and cooking gas by as much as 25 per cent to offset the impact
of soaring global oil prices on the Nepal Oil Corp, which sells fuel at
subsidised prices in the impoverished kingdom.
Kathmandu, Monday, AFP
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