Kathmandu, November 4

Nepal University Teachers Association an umbrella organisation of professors and teachers  today urged the government and the agitating political parties to reach a negotiated settlement at the earliest and ease the life of the general public.

Issuing a press statement, NUTA said the government should not hesitate to amend the constitution so that all Nepali people, including the Madhesis, own the document.

NUTA also appealed to the Indian government not to spoil friendly relations with Nepal by restricting supplies of essentials at a time when Nepali people were still struggling to come to terms with the loss of lives and properties in the recent earthquakes.

“Fuel shortage ahead of Dipawali and Chhath is a matter of distress. Thus the government should ease the situation through talks at the earliest,” said the statement. As many as 50 people have lost their lives and many more injured in the ongoing Madhes agitation, it said.

It said scarcity of petroleum products, gas, medicines, food items and many other essentials had made the life difficult for the Nepali people.

Recently, Nepal signed a deal with China on importing petroleum products from China.

Various student unions, including CPN-UML aligned All Nepal National Free Students Union, UCPN-Maoist aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary, Nepali Congress aligned Nepal Students Union and others yesterday submitted a memorandum to Minister for Commerce and Supply urging him to ease supply of petroleum products at the earliest.

They also urged the government to control black marketing of petroleum products.