Ex-CA members start returning state vehicles

RUDRA PANGENI

KATHMANDU: Members of the dissolved Constituent Assembly, who were provided with state vehicles, have started returning the four-wheelers to the Parliament Secretariat.

Of the 34 parliamentarians who were enjoying the facility, 12 have returned their four-wheelers, said the Secretariat, adding that other former lawmakers have until Sunday to hand their vehicles back.

“We hope that all the former CA members will return their vehicles by Sunday,” said Spokesperson for the Secretariat Mukunda Sharma. CA chair, vice-chair, chief whips of political parties, chairman of CA thematic and parliamentary committees had government vehicles at their disposal.

“The CA and Parliament were given 42 vehicles –– 32 were brand new and 12 others were provided by the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Constituent Assembly and Culture,” said officials at the secretariat.

Former chairman of the CA Subas Chandra Nembang, former chairman of the Constitutional Committee Nilamber Acharya and chairpersons of various committees — Lal Babu Pandit, Amik Sherchan, Shanta Chaudhary, Binda Pandey, Ramnath Dhakal, Ram Krishna Yadav, Laxman Ghimire, Mina Pandey, Chandika Yadav and Arjun Rai — have already handed their vehicles back, said the Secretariat.

Former deputy chairperson of CA Purna Kumari Subedi, UCPN-Moist Chief Whip Dev Prasad Gurung, CPN-UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic Chief Whip Ram Janam Chaudhary are among others who have not returned the cars.

Officials say as per the law anyone using state vehicles must return them within seven days of termination of their posts. Other thematic committee chiefs Ramesh Rijal, Shambhu Hajara Dushad, Nabodita Chaudhary and others of the fringe parties are still enjoying the vehicle facility given to them.

“We will write to the former lawmakers requesting them to return the vehicles,” said officials at the Parliament Secretariat.