June 20: Lawmakers have expressed objection to the decision of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to hike the price of petroleum products. Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, the MPs argued that the price was increased exorbitantly. NOC had announced a hike in the prices of fuel effective from June 20. With the latest price hike, a litre of petrol costs Rs 199.    
Speaking at the House meeting, the lawmakers said that the fuel price has been increased four times in the last one month alone, which has badly hit the daily life of the common man.    
At the start of the meeting, CPN(UML)'s Padma Aryal alleged the government of hiking the price of petroleum products to such an extent that it will 'break the back' of the people since it spurs market inflation due to the increase in the price of commodities.    
She said the daily life of the people has been affected due to the frequent hike in the price of fuel. Aryal argued that the House session could not move ahead until the government furnished a justified explanation for the price hike. She also suspected of financial irregularities in the government's decision of installing the embossed number plate on vehicles. -- RSS