Students give 24-hr ultimatum to govt to withdraw decision

KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Thirteen different students organizations aligned with different political parties have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to withdraw its decision to increase the prices of petroleum products.



A joint meeting of the students unions, held at the Tarai Madhes Democratic Students Front (TMDSF) office in Anamnagar, on Monday decided to take to the streets if the decision to increase fuel prices is not rolled back, TMDSF Chairman Suresh Mandal told Republica.[break]



Student leaders from Nepal Students Union, All Nepal National Free Students Union, All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary and TMDSF, among other students bodies, were present in the meeting.



The students bodies have also demanded that the government undergo self-criticism and ensure that its earlier decision to provide 35 percent concession on fuels purchase to students and the poor is implemented.



According to Mandal, the students bodies will resort to a stern nationwide protest program if the government fails to meet their demand in the next 24 hours.



A couple of days ago, Nepal Oil Corporation -- the state oil monopoly -- had raised, for the second time in just over a month, the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and aviation turbine fuel by Rs 4 per liter.

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