Kathmandu, August 2

Lawmakers today criticised the government for having a soft corner for corrupt people.

Speaking during the Zero Hour and Special Hour in the Parliament, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties said corrupt people were enjoying political patronage.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Dhan Raj Gurung said chair of erstwhile Tax Settlement Commission Lumbadhwaj Mahat and its member Umesh Dhakal were not arrested because they were political appointees.

“Leaders, government employees and traders are exploiting the nation’s resources,” he said.

He also the government did not take action against traders and entrepreneurs who made fake VAT bills. “This is a crime against the state,” he added.

Gurung went on to say that the government did not take action against 13 Nepali industrialists and traders, whose names figured in the Panama papers. He said Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had to quit as his name figured in the Panama papers.

He also said there was foul play in Nepal Oil Corporation’s land purchase deal and the government’s decision to award Budhigandaki Hydroelectric Project to China’s Gejuwa Group.

CPN-Maoist lawmaker Ram Narayan Bidari said the Nepal Oil Corporation had to purchase land for oil storage as per the Land Acquisition Act.

“Nepal Oil Corporation went to purchase the land through tender process, which was done with an intention of embezzling government money,” he added.  Bidari also criticised the government for not implementing the agreements signed with Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a fast-unto-death demanding reforms in the medical education sector.

CPN-UML lawmaker Ganga Lal Tuladhar said the education minister was trying to postpone the scheduled exam of temporary teachers with mala fide intention.

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal lawmaker Brijesh Kumar Gupta said the government was acquiring land  in Kapilvastu at the cost of

Rs  5 lakh per kaththa which was very low compared to the market price.

The House today passed three separate bills relating to National Dalit Commission, National Commission on Inclusion and National Commission on Indigenous People.