KATHMANDU, Oct 24: The CPN-UML's acceptance of land donation from Bhatbhateni Supermarket owner Min Bahadur Gurung for the construction of their party building has sparked widespread discussion and criticism. Even within the party, members of the standing and central committees have voiced concerns. The party has sought explanations from the members of both committees who have criticized the decision to accept land from a businessman. Therefore, it appears that the UML is determined not to backtrack on the decision to accept the donated land.
However, details about how the UML acquired the land from Gurung remain unclear. In an interview with an online media outlet, Gurung said that he would provide both the land and the building after the UML proposed constructing the party office.
After the party could not build a new building on the premises of the old UML party office in Balkhu due to the new standards for building physical structures along riverbanks, the party had prepared to buy land from entrepreneur Deepak Malhotra.
DPM Shrestha takes charge of negotiations as agitating teachers...
Before Gurung offered to build the central office, UML leaders had been searching for land for a new party office. UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and Deputy General Secretaries Pradeep Gyawali and Bishnu Rimal had tasked party affiliates with locating land. Initially, the plan was to construct the office by expanding upon the existing land in Balkhu. Preparations were underway to acquire three ropanis of land from local residents. In the meantime, the Supreme Court's ruling that buildings on land adjacent to a riverbank could be built only at least an additional 40 meters away from the riverbank hindered this plan. Upon reviewing the Supreme Court's full verdict, UML leaders realized the land was insufficient. "We owned land in Balkhu, and the plan was to buy an extra three ropanis of adjacent land for construction, but after reviewing the court's decision, we had to find an alternative," said Rajendra Gautam, head of UML's publicity department.
The Supreme Court's ruling stated that no structures could be built within 40 meters on both sides of rivers and streams in the valley, including the Bagmati River. It also ordered the demolition of existing structures within this zone. Following this, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City announced that it would not approve any new construction plans within the 40-meter zone. As a result, UML's plan to build its party office in Balkhu was no longer feasible.
According to UML sources, the search for land began after the Politburo meeting last August, which decided to construct a party building. There were discussions about purchasing 16 ropanis of land from businessman Deepak Malhotra, with a value estimated at Rs 1.2 billion. Malhotra agreed to reduce the price by Rs 200 million when UML expressed concerns that it would be out of their budget. A UML leader said, "Min Bahadur Gurung emerged as a philanthropist just as discussions to purchase Malhotra's land were underway." UML had been negotiating with Malhotra to lower the price due to the high cost of the land. UML Publicity Department Head Gautam said he was unaware of any negotiations with Malhotra. "Since we couldn't build the office in Balkhu, we were forced to look for land elsewhere," said Gautam.
According to another UML leader, after discussions about purchasing Malhotra's land, he attempted to meet party chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. However, Malhotra, who visited the Prime Minister's Office before Oli's trip to America, left without meeting him. "Due to preparations for his visit, Malhotra could not meet the Prime Minister," said an employee at the Prime Minister's Office. "The meeting was planned, but it did not take place."
The matter of UML receiving land donated by Gurung has now reached the Supreme Court. Gurung announced on October 11 that he had donated 10 ropanis and 14 annas of land at Kirtipur-2 Maitri Nagar in Kathmandu to the CPN-UML for the construction of a central office. On the same day, UML chairman Oli, and businessman Gurung and his wife laid the foundation stone for the building. Gurung has also pledged to finance the construction so that it can be inaugurated around next year's Dashain festival. The current market value of the land is estimated at around Rs 700 million.
Some UML leaders have criticized the act of the party accepting the land donation from Gurung, who was found guilty of tax evasion by the Supreme Court. The UML has sought clarification from Binda Pandey and Ushakiran Timsina, two of the leaders who have criticized the party’s decision to accept land donation from Gurung.
