According to OPMCM Spokesperson Jagadish Regmi, the office recently released the amount to the caterer as per the bill submitted by the prime minister´s secretariat at Baluwatar. [break]
"Though the bill was submitted at the secretariat two months ago, the amount has been released only recently," said a source preferring anonymity.
In a case of blatant violation of the austerity measures announced by his own government, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai surpassed his predecessors in spending the highest amoun for a tea party he hosted at his official residence at Baluwatar on the occasion Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Eid and Nepal Sambat New Year collectively.
"A total of Rs 2.7 million, inclusive of 13 percent VAT, has been released as sought by the caterer," the source informed Republica.
The cost was incurred for a tea party attended by nearly 9,000 invitees.
According to the source, the prime minister´s secretariat had issued the highest ever number of invitations --- 12,000--- to guests ranging from ministers, heads and members of various constitutional bodies and leaders of various political parties to diplomats, ambassadors, chiefs and deputy chiefs of various missions in Nepal, CA members, government employees, journalists, businessmen, civil society leaders, human rights activists, and chiefs and deputy chiefs of leading NGOs and INGOs, among others.
The austerity measure announced by the Ministry of Finance under direct instructions from PM Bhattarai does not allow the government to print large numbers of invitation cards and host large parties out of state coffers.
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