Nepal’s transport enterpreneurs have continued their indefinite strike even today demanding for more than 40 per cent of fare hike. They have not let any public vehicle run in the streets. According to reports, they have damaged some bikes an taxis in Kathmandu.
According to sources affiliated with transport enterpreneurs, the government and the enterpreneurs had made a secret compromise for an increase in the transport fare by 40 per cent. But pressurized by the people’s protests, the government formed a committee to determine the fare. The committee decreased the fare to 25 percent. Dissatisfied by this, the enterpreneurs have been protesting with a demand to restore the previously agreed-upon fare.
But consumer rights advocates say that the Nepal government has decided the transport fare on behalf of the enterpreneurs, forgetting the people. They say there has been an increase in petroleum prices only by 12 percent while the government increases the prices far more than the actual hike. People in villages have expressed their apprehension over the possible give-and-take of huge bribes before deciding the fare.
Political organizations affiliated to political parties are sound asleep even though the government has tortured people in this way. Only a few students have been seen in the streets shouting for a raise in the student concession. But they have not protested against the government and the transport enterpreneurs, who have jointly tortured people.
Some consumers say people should boycot transport for two months to teach them a lesson. As the exorbitant price hikes threaten most consumers’ lives in Nepal, people doubt of civil war should the smugglers and blackmarketers be the decisive forces in national politics.
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