Nullifying all five cabinet decisions taken over a period of eight years to provide various facilities to the VIPs, the apex court on Thursday asked the government to withdraw such facilities. [break]
On Friday, former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Surya Bahadur Thapa formally informed the government that they will no longer use such vehicles and other facilities, in order to abide by the SC order.
"Former PMs Nepal and Thapa contacted me and said they will not use the vehicles and facilities from Friday onwards," said Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire, adding, "They have asked me to come and take back the vehicles."
Former prime minister Dahal contacted Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattari on Friday evening and informed the latter that he will return his facilities on Saturday.
"Former PM Dahal is all set to return the vehicles on Saturday," said Chief Secretary Ghimire, adding, "Ex-PM Dahal is scheduled to hand back the facilities at 10:30 am, Saturday."
The three ex-PMs had informed that they would move about without using state facilities from Friday onwards. Former PM Nepal on Friday inaugurated the Madan-Ashrit Memorial Building at Gothattar in Kathmandu, but did not use state vehicles or government-furnished security personnel.
"I have asked the administration under the prime minister´s office to take back vehicles being used by ex-PMs," Ghimire added.
Responding to Republica, former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand also vowed to return his facilities on Sunday.
"I read the SC order but didn´t feel convinced that government decisions to provide facilities to former PMs were immoral and against democratic norms as cited by the SC in its order. If the decisions were against the law, that´s okay by me," Chand said, adding, "Whatever the judgement, I have to abide by it and will return the facilities on Sunday." Chand further said that he is ready to move out even on foot.
"I am yet to read the SC order," said former deputy prime minister and UML senior leader KP Oli, adding," It is not for me to implement the SC order. It is the government which has to implement the apex court decision. Thus, I have not taken any decision to return the facilities."
Oli also claimed that he never sought any facilities from the government and has no idea under which government decision the facilities were provided to him.
Talking to Republica, former home minister Bhim Rawal also pledged to return the vehicles and security personnel and abide by the SC order.
"I have just arrived in Kathmandu from Dhangadhi," he said, adding, "I will formally ask the government authorities to come and take back the facilities on Sunday."
High level officials concerned over VIP safety
Meanwhile, high level government officials have expressed concern about the safety of former prime ministers. "Who will provide security to ex-PMs Dahal, Nepal and others if government security personnel are to withdraw as per the SC order," said a senior government official, adding, "The government cannot put at risk the VIPs´ safety. This is a very serious matter."
The government had decided to withdraw Maoist combatants providing security to ex-PM Dahal and provide him state security personnel instead.
The source also said the government will immediately start work on drafting a new law to fix various facilities for VIPs.
The SC on Thursday said that government decisions in the past to provide vehicles, fuel, money for home rent and maintenance, state security personnel and other perks to ex-PMs, ex-chief justices, former DPMs, home ministers, ministers, state ministers, lawmakers and ex-royalty were arbitrary, discriminatory and against the law.
Related story
Book by Ujwal Thapa ‘Why Nepal?’ released
