Kathmandu, January 17
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed transport officials not to take any action against Tootle and Pathao, the businesses which have been employing private motorbike owners to give rides to members of the public.
The directive comes days after the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division reportedly launched a crackdown on the companies and arrested the riders.
Social media users including political leaders had protested the police move, citing the businesses were innovative and helping people.
“The Prime Minister did not directly refer to Tootle and Pathao, but he has directed the officials not to stop motorbikes from carrying passengers citing there were complaints about it,” Oli’s press coordinator Chetan Adhikari informs Onlilnekhabar.
It has been learned that the Prime Minister also told Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Transport Minister Raghu Bir Mahaseth to stop the ongoing crackdown.
Oli was of the view that there was not any mechanism to check if those riding pillion on the motorbikes were general public or persons related to the riders; hence the action should be stopped now.
