November 16: Businessmen have hiked the prices of consumer goods in the market taking advantage of the upcoming elections. With the November 20 the elections to the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly just around the corner, businessmen have increased the prices of consumer goods by more than 15 per cent in the market.

As all the attention of the government is focused on the elections, the consumers have been hit by the price hike. Consumers have complained that even the employees of the market regulatory agencies of the government are focused on the election, and the traders have started setting prices arbitrarily.

Pabitra Bajracharya, former president of Nepal Retail Trade Association, said that the price of every commodity has increased by 15 per cent after Dashain and Tihar. Bajracharya said that the prices of all the items have increased recently.

Bajracharya added that the prices of consumer goods have increased by more than 30 per cent in one year. According to Bajracharya, cooking oil which used to cost Rs 240 per litre during Dashain and Tihar, has now reached Rs 280. Bajracharya informed that the prices of sunflower, soybean and mustard oil have also increased by Rs 40 per litre.

Manoj Shrestha, a wholesaler from Kuleshwar, said that the prices of cooking oil, pulses and rice have increased. Shrestha argued that the price of cooking oil has increased in the market due to the increase in the value of the dollar.

Bishnu Pradhan, who came to Kuleshwar to buy food grains, complained that he was unable to buy pulses, rice and oil because of the high prices. He said that although India has reduced the tax on rice, traders have not reduced the price yet. He urged the government to pay attention to market monitoring.

Traders said that only the price of rice from India has increased, but the price of rice produced in Nepal has decreased. But the consumers are not ready to buy into the idea.