CPN-UML affiliated Youth Association Nepal (YAN) on Saturday urged the government to withdraw its decision within 24-hours or face massive protests. "We want to clarify that we will respond to the decision through protests of entire students if the decision is not revoked within the set deadline," said YAN Chairman Mahesh Basnet. [break]
Basnet in a statement termed the decision ´anti-people´, saying that current Baburam Bhattarai-led government was trying to institutionalized corruption in the country.
He said while the government failed to provide relief to the people hit hard by soaring prices of petroleum products, it was willing give huge amounts to meaningless pursuits of party cadres.
YAN Vice Chair Jhapat Rawal said his organization would stage stringent protests against the government from Sunday. "Our protests have already begun. There will be burning of effigy of prime minister in front of all academic institutions. This protests will force the government to step down eventually," he said.
UML-affiliated students had staged a rally against the government decision in Charikot, the district headquarters of Dolakha, asking the government to revoke the decision.
Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Tarun Dal also says it will intensify its protests if the decision was not revoked. Students aligned to Tarun Dal on Saturday organised a demonstration outside the capital´s Tri-Chandra Campus and burnt an effigy of the prime minister.
The government, however, continued to remain firm in its decision despite protests from various quarters.
Speaking at Reporters´ Club, Nepal in the capital Saturday afternoon, prime minister´s political advisor Devendra Poudel said the government would not withdraw its decision to provide financial aid to the UCPN (Maoist) Everest expedition team. "One can protest if he/she does not agree with the government decision," argued Poudel, adding, "But the government will not withdraw its decision."
"Let us not bar youths from carrying out some creative works; the government has right to encourage the youths," Poudel defended the cabinet decision.
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