Valley
Talks with PM Koirala only: Student unions
Fifteen student unions close to various political parties, who are demanding that the transport fares be reduced as per the recent decrease in petroleum pricesThe alliance took the decision to this effect after their talks with Commerce and Supplies Minister Sunil Bahadur Thapa ended inconclusively on Tuesday. The unions have also started demonstrations demanding that government should reduce the transportation fare as per the decrease in fuel prices. They have also demanded dual price system in cooking gas and subsidy for students and poor people.
The unions had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Monday, asking him to intervene in decreasing the fuel prices in accordance with the recent drop petroleum prices in the international market and reduce transportation fares. After receiving the memorandum, PM Koirala had directed Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal to form a panel to hold talks with the student unions.
The talks, however, ended inconclusively after the government side claimed that the fare cannot be decreased by more than one percent. “We will go for stern protests starting Thursday if the government is not serious about the issue,” said Ramesh Malla, vice-chairperson of the All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary), after a joint meeting of the unions.