KATHMANDU, Oct 18 – Nepal Consumer Forum (NCF) has threatened to launch nationwide agitation programs demanding roll back in the recent petro-price hike by the government.

The government last Friday had announced hike in the price of diesel by 20 percent, petrol by 17.5 percent, kerosene by 100 percent and LPG by 19 percent.

At a press conference organized here today, Harendra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of NCF, claimed the price hike is unethical since the government had assured last year of not reviewing oil prices for the next two years.

The assurance was made last year after the government announced increment in the prices of diesel and kerosene by 23 percent and 48 percent respectively.

Shrestha also alleged that the announcement to provide only three liters of kerosene under the ration card system was done without homework.

According to a press release issued on the occasion, NCF plans to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on October 23.

NCF also plans to boycott the purchase of petroleum products on October 23 with help from various transporters’ associations, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation, among others.

The release says the price hike would have adverse impact on both social and economic sectors. The hike, citing pressure due to recent raise in petro-prices by neighboring India, is means to cover weak government efficiency in curbing cross border smuggling, the release says.