The government with the so-called "clean image" has been tarnished by yet another example of incompetence in announcing a steep hike in the price of petroleum products for the second time in the last three months. The government's decision cites the "international situation" as an excuse to strike an additional blow to already deprived citizens.

The fact is, petroleum-exporting countries have neither reduced their production nor raised the price of crude oil. The government of Iraq, which is directly embroiled in war, continues to export oil. Contrary to the national trend, the price of oil has declined in the international market. In this light, to make the "international situation" an excuse is nothing more than an attempt to hoodwink the Nepali people.

The recent artificial shortage of fuel in the market may be linked with efforts to hike the price of petroleum products. Citing the smuggling of petroleum products across the border to India merely exposes the incompetence of our administration. The question arises: do decision makers have some sort of "unholy alliance" with the oil mafia?