Biratnagar, November 12:

Finance Minister and Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai claimed today that his party had not seized anyone’s land and assets. “The CPN-Maoist has not seized anyone’s land and assets. We should not be blamed if others resort to land and assets’ seizure.”

“The People’s Liberation Army would be integrated into the Nepal Army in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA),” said the minister. Speaking with mediapersons in Biratnagar, he called on all concerned not to waste time by talking endlessly about army integration.

The Minister claimed that media were confusing people on the issue of army integration. “Who speaks what is not important. Importance should be attached to what the CPA says on integration.”

Issuing directives to the Morang district-based office chiefs, Dr Bhattari said that those, who violate the law, would be punished. “The government employees should change mindset and working style,” said he. “Work under the law, the government is not biased against you,” he said, calling the employees to improve the quality of work.

Meanwhile, Dr Bhattarai attended a meeting organised by the Revenue Investigation Unit Office in Itahari. The minister claimed that revenue leakage was rife in revenue offices themselves. He urged all concerned to work actively to realise the government’s target on revenue collection. He said the government would punish employees if they were found to be swindling revenues.

Assistant director general of the Revenue Investigation Department, Mahesh Prasad Dahal, said discussions are being organised across the country to meet the government’s goal on revenue

collection.