As most parts of the country came to a grinding halt for nearly 36-hours and the capital city was enveloped with thick layers of smokes caused by excessive burning of tyres by protesters, the G P Koirala Government in Nepal announced withdrawal of its decision to increase the price of petroleum products.A brief emergency meeting of the cabinet at his official residence on Wednesday afternoon decided to withdraw the decision and roll back the hike in the price with immediate effect, official sources said.The Government was forced to give in to the protest staged by youths and students affiliated to various political parties of the ruling alliance. The protesters, who took to the streets, burnt tyres in parts of the capital — including the Narayanhiti Royal Palace and the office of the Prime Minister — demanding that the Government roll back the price hike. Official sources said that the Nepal Oil Corporation has been instructed to implement the cabinet decision with immediate effect, which would mean withdrawal of the hike in the price of kerosene and cooking gas. The petroleum price hike a few weeks ago would remain in effect.
