Nepalgunj, February 28:

Maoist chairman Prachanda said here today that a policy would be enforced to effect land ceiling and progressive tax.

Shedding light on the party economic policies, he said tax would be levied from the owners of mansions in Kathmandu. “Houses do not contribute to GDP. It is useless to spend huge sums on constructing big buildings. A small cozy house will do for accommodation,” he said, adding that the investment on industries will benefit the nation in the long run.

He, however, did not disclose how much the tax on big buildings would be. “The progressive tax must be slapped on those who have earned wealth through undue and illegal means,” he said.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony of Nepalgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industries, he said that ceiling will be imposed on persons having over 10 bighas of land in the Tarai. He also said he would issue a statement tomorrow with regard to the return of land and property seized by his party.

Prachanda said that Nepal has been left 200 years behind Europe and America, as it failed to achieve political revolution, adding that Nepal would soon start an industrial revolution.

Saying that people have no choice but to afford opportunity to the Maoists to rule the country, he said, “No matter how much opposition you show against us, you will have to ask us to join the government because only we can change the country in the next 20 years.” He also said that although his party does not oppose private property, the party leaders and cadres would not own any private property.

Maoist economic expert and senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that the country’s development was not possible until there is capital development. Nepal has remained underdeveloped due to the monarchy and the feudal system, he said, adding that the monarchy should be abolished.

President of the Nepalgunj Chambers of Commerce and Industries Damodar Acharya, on behalf of the chamber, handed a memorandum to Prachanda. In the memorandum, the Maoists have been asked to return seized land and property, rehabilitate displaced people, stop double taxation and extortion, break bandh programmes before the constituent assembly polls.

Nepalgunj victims of the December 26-27 incidents also handed over damage details to Prachanda and demanded adequate compensation.