Chitwan, August 16

The four-day relay hunger strike of seven political forces ended after an agreement was signed between the agitating forces and Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan, last evening. The relay hunger strike was staged against high tax rates imposed in the municipality.

The agitating leaders of the seven forces and the municipality reached an agreement during talks held in the presence of Deputy Mayor Bimala Devi Duwadi. They have agreed to form a seven-member team to revise tax rates.

According to Mayor Narayan Ban, the team will comprise four municipal officials, including Deputy Mayor Duwadi, and three members from the agitating forces. The team will study and recommend new tax rates.

“We forged consensus on revision of tax rates. The team will recommend tax rates and a special municipal assembly will endorse it,” said Mayor Ban.

Nepali Congress Ratnanagar Municipality president Rupan Raj Ghimire said they resorted to relay hunger strike after the municipality didn’t heed their demands. “The municipality was enforcing exorbitant taxes on property, business, house rent and land. On the one hand, the taxes were unscientific and impractical, while on the other, local representatives were misusing development budget and collecting revenue to purchase luxurious vehicles, among other things. Instead of curbing corruption, they had been encouraging it and were also intervening in the formation of school management committees,” Ghimire said.

Representatives of Nepali Congress, NCP (Marxist-Leninist), Rastriya Janamorcha, Deshbhakta Janaganatantrik Morcha, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic) and Naya Shakti Party-Nepal had been staging the relay hunger strike since Sunday.