KATHMANDU, April 28: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that he has no idea about the decision to allocate an amount from the state coffers to the disqualified ex-Maoist combatants. The finance ministry has taken no official decision in this regard so far, according to him.
The National Youth Association, Nepal, today called on the finance minister and submitted a seven-point memorandum to him, citing the government’s decision to provide Rs 200,000 each to the ex-Maoist combatants who were assessed as disqualified during the peace process.
Receiving the memo, the finance minister said although the budget speech for the current fiscal year incorporated the issue of the management of disqualified people's liberation army soldiers, the ministry has not decided to provide cash to them.
Remove 'disqualified tag' on us: ex-combatants
“The issues of disqualified ex-Maoist combatant reached the court. The budget has also mentioned it. No decision has been taken over the matter since I assumed the office. I have no idea about the work procedure said to be endorsed by the Council of Ministers to proceed ahead on this matter.”
He urged one and all not to suspect any misappropriation of the state coffers by the government. “I urge all to not suspect that the government will misappropriate the state coffers in the name of disqualified combatants,” he said.
Minister Mahat who represents the Nepali Congress in the government shared with the delegation that the NC was also concerned about this matter.
In the memo, the Association has said, “Our serious attention has been drawn to the Working Procedure prepared by the home ministry and presented before the Council of Ministers on April 19 in a bid to provide Rs 200,000 each to the disqualified Maoist combatants.”
RSS
