State perks to VIPs unjustifiable, says NC prez

Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala Saturday said that the government decision to offer hefty perks from the state coffer to the VIPs such as former prime ministers, home ministers, chief justices and speakers was inappropriate.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of three-day relay hunger strike organised by Nepal Civil Society to protest the government decision, Koirala said the government’s decision was irrelevant in the context of Nepal where majority people still struggle to afford themselves basic commodities like food.

“It will be more effective if the money allocated for such facility is used to feed poor people,” he added.

On the occasion, NC central committee member Ram Sharan Mahat said that the government was promoting corruption by taking unpopular decision to provide lifelong state facilities to the VIPs.

Recently, the government endorsed an ordinance on state facilities to the former PMs, former Chief Justices, former Speakers and former Home Ministers, who were in office after 1990. The facilities include apartment rents, luxury vehicles and "hospitality allowance", among others. nepalnews.com