POKHARA: Naya Shakti Party-Nepal Coordinator and former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai has said that corruption is taking place between the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC).

At a face-to-face programme organised by Parliamentary Reporters' Forum Gandaki Province, in Pokhara today, Bhattarai pointed out that bribery and corruption occurred in wide-body aircraft purchase deal, Budhigandaki hydro project, Ncell's capital gain tax with cooperation between the NCP (NCP) and the NC.

He alleged that although corruption scandals come to light, the authorities often try to cover up. NSP-N Coordinator Bhattarai said that supreme court's order issued to NCell and Axiata to foot tax bill was a positive act.

He noted that the public had anticipated much from the government as it was constituted following the establishment of the federal democratic republic. He added that the incumbent government failed to take headways as per people's expectations. He argued that although the government needed to take giant leaps in development to live up to people's aspirations, its current pace was very generic and sluggish.

He also criticised the government for not stepping forward to consolidate the economy.

Saying that prevalence of poverty and unemployment was increasing over the time, he pointed out the need to level up the two-digit economic growth rate for two decades so as to arrive at the average per capita income of Rs 10,000.

Attaining prosperity was not possible without attracting investments from the private sector, Bhattarai said, adding that there was no option but to gradually enable an environment conducive for investment.

On the occasion, the former PM also highlighted the importance of road infrastructure development for prosperity and suggested the government to lay emphasis on the construction of Koshi, Kaligandaki and Karnali corridors.