At a function organized by Pokhara Bus Entrepreneurs´ Association on Saturday, Thapa unequivocally supported syndicate system, which has been outlawed by Competition Promotion and Market Protection Act (2007). [break]He also said that the UCNP (Maoists) and the CPN (UML) are with NC on the issue.
Early in 2011, the Supreme Court (SC) had ordered the government to end the syndicate system. However, disregarding the law and the Supreme Court´s order, NC Kaski district president Thapa said that his party, with support from the UCPN (Maoists) and the UML, will take to the streets if some new transport company tries to operate bus services in Pokhara.
As he expressed his commitment to protect an illegal system, Thapa was cheered by hundreds of bus entrepreneurs.
“Even in the past, we have always opposed every attempt to operate new bus services in Pokhara,” Thapa said. “We leaders of all three major political parties ready to protest if any such move is taken in future.”
Thapa also revealed that the political parties have been receiving donations from bus entrepreneurs for muzzling the voices against abolition of the syndicate system. “We have always received donations from bus entrepreneurs,” said he. “I hope you will never turn down our requests for donations in future, too.”
Man Bahadur BC, Kaski district chairman of the CPN (UML), was not as vocal as Thapa in support of the syndicate system. However, he did not object when Thapa said that the CNP (UML) and the UCPN (Maoists) would support NC in preventing any new transport company from operating bus services in Pokhara.
Jhalak Pani Tiwari, in-charge of the UCPN (Maoists) was also not present in the function. But, Thapa assured bus entrepreneurs that the UCPN (Maoists) is also with the NC on the issue of syndicate system in the transportation sector.
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