Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 17:

The four agitating political parties took to the streets today with black flags protesting against the price hike in petroleum products.

They strongly demanded that the government castigate “corrupt” employees of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and control financial irregularities to stop the corporation from deteriorating further.

“It’s high time the government controlled financial irregularities at the NOC,” said Sanak Man Maharjan, leader of Nepal Workers’ and Peasants Party (NWPP) while addressing a mass meeting that converged following a protest rally at Ratna Park today.

Coming down heavily on the government, leader of Janamorcha Nepal, Keshav Nepal, labelled the price hike as the “continuation of regression.”

He blamed the government for adding more burden to the already suffering people by “playing a game of commission.”

“This is nothing but a game of commission,” said Nepal. He warned the government of severe consequences if it did not withdraw the price hike.

Nepali Congress leader, Gopal Pahari, too, criticised the government for the price hike and vowed to continue to fight until the King took back his “regressive announcement.”

Some demonstrators sustained minor injuries when police resorted to lathi-charge after the protesters pelted stones and bricks at them after the mass meeting. The cops — who were deployed in large numbers — snatched a tyre when some students tried to burn it at the Ratna Park juncture.