Govt, transport entrepreneurs strike agreement, protests to end

KATHMANDU: The agitating transport entrepreneurs have called off their protest programmes after the government agreed to address their demands today.

As per reports, government and transport entrepreneurs struck an eight-point agreement and the former agreed to amend provisions of the penal code as demanded by the latter.

A group of transport entrepreneurs, especially those operating tankers, had been staging protest since Tuesday against provisions in the penal code, including 10-year imprisonment for accidents and life imprisonment for causing death.

“The government has agreed to amend the provisions of the penal code and address other issues raised by us,” Transport Entrepreneurs Struggle Committee coordinator Basanta Sharma said. “In this backdrop, we have withdrawn our protest.”

According to Sharma, the government has agreed to form an investigation committee including a representative from Drivers’ Association that will probe road accidents and causes behind them. Moreover, a driver who is not accused by the committee of negligence and recklessness will not be slapped charges, added Sharma.

The ongoing fuel supply crisis is now expected to end following the agreement.

Fuel stations across the country had been facing shortage of petroleum products since fuel tanker operators started halting fuel supply, expressing solidarity with the protest initiated by transporters against a few transport-related provisions in the recently enacted Criminal Code.