Kathmandu: Bowing to a week-long protest by
a student organisations, the Nepal government on Thursday decided
to partially roll back prices of petroleum products.
The government has brought down the price of petrol
by Rs 3 per liter, while diesel and kerosene prices have
been reduced by Rs 4 per liter. The price of cooking gas has
also been reduced by Rs 85 per cylinder.
"We were forced to revise down the prices of petroleum
products after consumers, especially students, expressed
dissatisfaction over the price hike introduced earlier this
month," Maoist leader and Commerce and Supplies Minister Lekh
Raj Bhatta said talking to journalists.
Last week the government had increased the prices
of fuel and LP Gas by almost 15 per cent, sparking nationwide
protests.
The 13 student unions belonging to the major political
parties have been protesting in Kathmandu valley to pressurise
the government to roll back its decision to hike fuel prices.
However, the talks held between the representatives of
student bodies and the Minister for Supplies failed on today
after the student leaders took stance that the government
entirely withdrew the fuel price hike.
The student bodies have warned to launch further
protests to pressurise the government.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 22:01