The government announced slight reduction on fuel prices Thursday buckling under the pressure from the striking students.[break]
Calling the government´s decision positive but inadequate, the meeting of 13 student unions including the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) and eight youth wings of other political parties, decided that the agitation should continue.
They have been demanding that the recent fuel price hike be withdrawn and the poor and students be provided 50 percent concession on kerosene and gas on the rate that existed before the recent hike.
“We have given the government a deadline of January 29 to meet our demands. If they are not met, we will take stricter measures of calling nation-wide general strikes, surrounding Singha Durbar to stop the prime minister and ministers from entering,” Vice-president of ANNISU-R Jagrit Rayamajhi said.
The students have said until January 29 they will resort to milder tactics like stopping government vehicles, protesting in front of colleges and mass meetings and interactions.
Minister for Commerce and Supplies Lekha Raj Bhatta, who invited the students for talks that eventually ended without any agreement, said that the ministry was in no position to fulfill the demands of the students.
“I will convey the discontentment of the students to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Saturday. It is again up to him and the cabinet as to how they´ll tackle the issue,” Minister Bhatta said.
“They can distribute fuel for free by diverting all development budget to fund the subsidy if they so wish. But I can´t see how the price can be brought down further when the Nepal Oil Corporation will be suffering a monthly loss of Rs 1.25 billion even at the current price,” he fumed.
He also urged all political parties to rise above petty politicking and come out clear on the issue of the rise in the prices of petroleum products so that it can be resolved through political consensus.
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