KATHMANDU, June 30 - Sunday announced postponement of its week-long strike, responding to a request from the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).“We postpone our protest programs at the request of FNCCI, which has urged us to raise the issue again later once normal situation is restored in the country,” Sarad Bhandari, general secretary of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA) said. FNCCI had shown solidarity with the ongoing strike announced by NPDA.

The NPDA has made it clear that it is suspending all protest programs “for the time being” due mainly to the political vacuum emerging after the resignation of the prime minister and absence of authorized government for serious talks on fuel price issues.

FNCCI, the apex business association, requested petroleum dealers to postpone their ongoing strike after a series of dialogues between the NPDA and officials of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) ended inconclusively on Sunday.

NPDA has been staging a nationwide strike from last Monday, demanding smooth supply of petroleum products and equal pricing of kerosene and diesel.

Rounds of talks between petroleum dealers and officials from Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) failed as NoC officials couldn’t provide a final say on fulfilling the dealers’ demands, citing that these were beyond their jurisdiction.

“We have decided to postpone all protest programs until formation of a new government because the country might come to a complete halt if the strike continues,” Bhandari told the Post.

Shortage of petroleum across the country mounted rapidly in recent days as more than 2,500 dealers of petroleum products pulled down their shutters as part of their nation-wide strike.

During the three consecutive talks with dealers, officials at MoICS maintained their previous stance that it alone can’t equalize the price of diesel and kerosene and for that there is need for a cabinet decision.

“Likewise, we are not in a position to provide a work plan to ensure smooth supply as demanded by dealers at this point in time,” a ministry official added.

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