Maoist Centre denies financial irregularities in PLA cantonments

The CPN (Maoist Centre) has denied any financial irregularities in the payment of the then members of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army and other managerial works in the cantonments.

Organising a press meet at the party central office in Parisdanda today, the party said the Office of the Auditor General had already cleared the matter and there were no irregularities in the budget meant for the supervision and management of ex-Maoist armies took place in the presence of government bodies.

Party Vice Chair and Spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said a letter about the budget allocations to the cantonments and its expenditures was sent on June 1, 2012, to the Office of Cantonment Management Central Coordinator in Singha Durbar.

The annual report of the Office of the Auditor General-2069 BS (page number 259) has mentioned the audit of the cantonment expenditures, it is said.

The government on April 26, 2012, took a decision to convert around Rs 460 million allocated in advance for the supervision and management of the then Maoist armies in the course of implementing the peace process to grants. The decision was based on the recommendations of the parliamentary Public Account Committee and the then Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.

Stated that the payments of salaries were made to the beneficiaries by issuing receipts, then the deputy commander of the Maoist Liberation Army and the CPN (Maoist Centre) Chakrapani Khanal accused the attempts of picking up an issue unnecessarily as ‘the matter has been already concluded legally and practically’.

There were not any financial irregularities in the cantonments and it could not be, he claimed.

The Maoist Centre has asked the government to take stern action against those involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam stating that its move in proceeding with investigations into the case undeterred has helped save the prestige of the state, and created encouragement and morale among people. The party has especially requested the government to do its maximum part and not to compromise on booking those involved in the scam, said Mahara.

The Maoist Centre has emphasised the need for effective implementation of government policies and programmes, noting that they include topics as realizing self-reliance by increasing production and productivity in agriculture and promoting employment.

The governing party has expressed happiness stating the policy and programme document incorporated creating at least 500,000 jobs, extending electricity to every household and completing the peace process, among others.

The Maoist Centre said the government has tried to give a positive message to the Nepali people by starting the process of initiating action against the people implicated in the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, formulating laws for providing justice to the loan-sharking victims, enlisting the Nepalis in foreign employment in the social security fund.

It also mentioned that for the first time, the school students have got textbooks on time and planned initiatives have been undertaken for improving the economy. The Maoist Centre has called the attention of the government to carry out additional positive and pro-people works ahead.