[World News]:
Kathmandu, Jan 12 : Agitators in Nepal protesting against the hike in prices of petroleum products have demanded the resignation of Minister for Commerce and Supply Ishwor Pokharel, holding him responsible for the price rise, even as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said it was necessitated by the losses suffered by the Nepal Oil Corporation.
The street protests demanding the resignation of the standing committee member of Nepal Communist Party-UML resulted in clashes in different parts of Kathmandu and blocking of transport services for hours as the agitation continued for the third day.
Four-party alliances including the Nepali Congress today took out a torch-lit procession in the capital to oppose the price hike. The demonstration went round the city and clashed with the police. Traffic was disrupted for three hours as a result.
The Nepal Students' Union, affiliated to Nepali Congress, and All Nepal National Free Students Union, owing allegiance to CPN-UML, one of the ruling partners, also joined the agitation.
Half a dozen students were injured during the clashes and riot police were deployed in major parts of the city.
The agitators also took out processions and blocked transport service in Janakpur, Birgunj, Butawal and Jhapa outside the capital. In Birgunj, the agitators burnt a government vehicle.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said today that the price hike was a compulsion as the Nepal Oil Corporation was incurring a huge loss. PTI
This page printed from: http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=59623