Kathmandu

Lawmakers criticised the government for providing a large amount of money to Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala as expense for treatment of breast cancer.

A cabinet meeting had decided to provide Rs 5 million to former deputy prime minister Koirala yesterday.

Stating that past records showed that the government has a tendency of spending money arbitrarily on political leaders, they urged the government to implement a single set of guideline while providing medical expenses through cabinet decision.

UML lawmaker Prakash Jwala said the government’s tendency to provide large amounts of money to former VIPs was faulty. Stating that the government provided large amount of money to the former president, his supporters, Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka, who was prosecuted and taken action against, Jwala drew the government’s attention to the need to correct it.

“People are dying as they are deprived of treatment. However, the state is spending Rs 5 million to send a VIP for treatment abroad. It is not justifiable,” he said. He demanded clarification from the health minister.

Dilnath Giri of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal said that providing Rs 5 million to former DPM Koirala from the state coffers was a blunder. Mina Pun of Rastriya Janamorcha demanded that such practice be stopped.