फेरि राजनीतिको चेपुवामा अर्थतन्त्र

२०६७ चैत १५ गते तत्कालीन अर्थ सचिव रामेश्वर खनाल मुख्य सचिव माधव घिमिरेलाई भेटेर आफ्नो राजीनामा बुझाउन गए । खनालको कार्यावधि सकिएको थिएन, न त उनीमाथि कुनै आरोप लागेको थियो । त्यसैले मुख्य सचिवले अचम्म मान्दै राजीनामा फिर्ता लिन आग्रह गरे । खनालले आफूले दर्ता शाखामा राजीनामा दर्ता गराइसकेको अनि मुख्य सचिवलाई बोधार्थमात्र दिन आएको बताए, राजीनामा फिर्ता लिन अस्वीकार गरे । केही नलागेपछि मुख्य सचिवले भने, “तपार्इंलाई राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगमा उपाध्यक्ष बनाउने कुरा थियो तर तपाईं त राजीनामा दिँदै हुनुहुन्छ ।”

तर, खनाल लोभिएनन् । आफ्नो निर्णयमा अडिग नै रहे । “मलाईचाहिँ योजना आयोगमा सदस्य बनाउँला भनिएको थियो,” खनालले त्यो दिनको स्मरण गर्दै कारोबारलाई भने, “मुख्य सचिवकोमा चाहिँ उपाध्यक्ष नै भनिएको रहेछ ।”

खनाल किन लोभिएनन् र राजीनामा दिए ? कारण अघिल्लो साँझ नै उनी अर्थ मन्त्रालयमा आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको बजेटको पाँचांै ड्राफ्ट च्यातेर निस्किएका थिए । किनकी त्यो बजेटको ड्राफ्ट मन्त्रालयभित्र बनेको थिएन । “मैले पाँचांै पटकसम्म सहें । तर पाँचांै ड्राफ्ट च्यातेर घर पुगेपछि छैटौं ड्राफ्ट पनि बनेको थाहा पाएँ । त्यसपछि मैले राजीनामा दिने निर्णय गरें । अर्थ मन्त्रालय बाहिर बन्ने बजेटप्रति मेरो घोर विरोध थियो,” उनले ती दिन सम्झिए, “जब मन्त्रीले मलाई विश्वास नगरेर अर्थ मन्त्रालयबाहिरै बजेटका ड्राफ्ट बनाउँदै देखाउन थाले, मैले विरोध गरें । अति भएपछि राजीनामा गरें ।”

खनालमात्र होइनन्, डा देबेन्द्रराज पाण्डे पनि त्यसअघि उसैगरि राजीनामा गरेर निस्किएका हुन् ।

२०६७ बाट २०७९ सम्म आइपुग्दा एक दशकभन्दा बढी भइसक्यो । यसबीच सिंहदरबार नजिकैको बागमतीमा धेरै पानी बगिसकेको छ । तर, सिंहदरबारमा नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचार भने झन् जब्बर रूपमा जरा गाड्दै छ । मुलुक संघीयतामा गएपछि सिंहदरबारमा नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारले झन् बढी जरा गाड्नु तथा कर्मचारीतन्त्रले आँखा चिम्लनुले मुलुकको भविष्य फेरि पनि गलत राजनीतिको चेपुवामा परेको छ । नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारमा किन कर्मचारीतन्त्रले आँखा चिम्लन्छ ? यसको सहज उत्तर दिन्छन् खनाल, “मलाई योजना आयोगको लोभ देखाएझैं राजनीतिक नियुक्ति, राजदूत आदिका लोभ होलान् ।” के कर्मचारीतन्त्रको सानो लोभले मुलुक आर्थिक रूपमा भड्खालोमा जाकिनुपर्ने हो ? उत्तर उनीसँग पनि छैन । किनकि यो व्यक्तिगत सोच हो । “जबसम्म समाजमा ‘मैमात्रै कमाउँ मैमात्रै खाउँ’ भन्ने व्यक्तिवादी चिन्तन हाबी हुन्छ, मुलुक बन्दैन,” अर्थविद् डा. चन्द्रमणि अधिकारी भन्छन् ।

त्यतिमात्रै होइन, हिजो राजनीतिक दलले राजनीतिक क्रान्ति सकिएका कारण अब मुलुकमा आर्थिक क्रान्तिको समय आएको बताउँदा आशावान् बनेका युवापुस्ता तिनै हजुरबुबा उमेरका नेताले आफ्नो भविष्य अनिश्चित बनाइदिएकोमा असन्तुष्ट छन् । त्यसैको उत्तर काठमाडौं महानगरपालिकाको मेयरमा बालेन्द्र शाहको जित हो ।

संघीय गणतन्त्रमा सुशासन नभए पनि हुने, आर्थिक पारदर्शिता नचाहिने तथा जवाफदेही बन्नु नपर्ने होइन, हिजोका केन्द्रिकृत शासन गर्ने वंशवादका प्रणेताभन्दा नागरिकमा बढी अधिकार, सुशासन, आर्थिक पारदर्शिता तथा नेतृत्वको जवाफदेहिता संघीय गणतन्त्रको प्राण हो । प्राण हरण गरेर शासन चलाउन यो २०१७ साल पनि होइन ।

त्यसैले अन्ततः आरोप तथा विवादबीच अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्माले राजीनामा दिएका छन्, अर्थसचिव मधुकुमार मरासिनी बिदा बसेका छन् । प्रश्न अझै छन्, किन यति धेरै दिन लाग्यो, यी दुईलाई निर्णय गर्न ?

यतिखेर अर्थतन्त्र सहज छैन, श्रीलंका भएको छैन र, हुँदैन पनि । नेपालको अवस्था श्रीलंकाभन्दा झन् खराब हुन्छ, यदि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले आफ्नो गल्ती स्वीकारेर बाटो परिवर्तन नगरेमा । श्रीलंका दक्षिण एसियमा धेरै सूचकमा अब्बल थियो र अझै छ । दक्षिण एसियामा नेपाल अधिकांश सूचकमा पुछारमा आउँछ । त्यसैले नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र जुन दिशा तथा दशामा छ, श्रीलंकाभन्दा खराब हुने सम्भावना प्रचुर छ । श्रीलंकामा पनि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वको अस्थिर नीतिगत सोच तथा मुलुक कब्जा गर्ने दूराकांक्षाले मुलुक टाट पल्टेको हो । त्यसैले नेपालमा पनि राजनीतिक नेतृत्वले मात्रै मुलुकलाई जोगाउन सक्छ । दक्षिण एसियामा श्रीलंकामात्रै होइन, पाकिस्तान र बंगलादेशको अवस्था पनि नाजुक छ । त्यसैले नेपाल ढुक्क हुने अवस्था छैन ।

अर्थमन्त्री जनार्दन शर्मामाथिको आरोपमा प्रधानमन्त्री तथा उनकै पार्टीका अध्यक्ष यतिका दिनसम्म चुप बस्नु श्रीलंकाको भनक नै हो । राजीनामा समाधान होइन, न त संसदीय छानबिन समिति नै । किनकि माओवादी केन्द्रलाई भित्रैबाट बुझेकाहरुका अनुसार जनार्दन शर्मा माओवादी केन्द्रमा अध्यक्षसँग जति पैसा भए पार्टी कब्जा गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने सोच बोकेका तीन–चार नेतामध्ये एक हुन् । सायद उनी त्यही मार्गमा जाँदै पनि थिए । तर, कमरेड शर्मा पार्टी कब्जा होइन, मुलुक कब्जा गर्ने अवसरबाट चुकेका छन् । जसरी उनीभन्दा अलिक अगाडिका विद्धान् अर्थमन्त्री डा. युवराज खतिवडा चुके । अर्थमन्त्रीका निजी कुण्ठा तथा राजनीतिक अभिष्टको शिकार मुलुकको अर्थतन्त्र हुनु दुर्भाग्य हो ।

अर्थमन्त्री पदबाट राजीनामा दिनुअघि उनले प्रतिनिधिसभाको रोष्ट्रममा उभिएर आफू के कारणले अनैतिक भएको भन्दै प्रश्न उठाउनेहरुप्रति नै प्रतिप्रश्न गरे । तर, प्रश्न उनले अरुलाई होइन आफ्नै अन्तरआत्मालाई गर्नुपर्छ, किन निजी क्षेत्रलाई व्यवसाय गर्ने प्रतिस्पर्धी वातावरण बनाउन सकेनन् ? (कारोबार)

Finance Minister assures of pro-socialist budget

Finance Minister Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada has said that government is preparing socialism-oriented budget as per the spirit of the constitution.
Responding to the queries of Upper House members regarding the principles and priorities – except tax proposal – of the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year 2075-76 in today, Khatiwada assured that the budget would be according to the election manifesto of the united leftist alliance.
However, the partners in the government of left alliance – the Maoist Centre – ministers have shown their dissatisfaction over the budget preparation process. They have blamed the finance minister for not discussing with them.
The Finance Ministry is preparing the budget within the ceiling of Rs 1204 billion as according to the National Planning Commission (NPA) ceiling. However, the commission's newly appointed members have also no idea about the budget preparation, though the commission is said to be the planning partner during the budget preparation.
Khatiwada has neither consulted with the alliance partners nor has he shown any indication of listening to them.
Last week, Khatiwada had invited former finance ministers to discuss on the budget but only Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Dr Rup Jyoti arrived at the Finance Ministry. The former finance ministers including Bishnu Poudel, Surendra Pandey and Bharat Mohan Adhikari – who hail from Dr Khatiwada's own party CPN-UML – and Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Barsha Man Pun – who hail from Maoist Centre, the government alliance – also could not spare their time to Khatiwada.

Alleged Dawood Ibrahim aide becomes a mayoral candidate in Birgunj

A man alleged to have close ties to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is a mayoral candidate in Birgunj sub–metropolitan city.
Today the main opposition party CPN-UML announced Basaruddhin Ansari’s candidature for the third phase of local polls that is slated for September 18.
Ansari – a controversial figure who owns National Medical College in Birgunj and Kathmandu – is believed to be close to Dawood, the notorious don. It is alleged that Dawood has invested millions of rupees into the colleges that Ansari owns.
After Ansari’s candidature was announced, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba instructed Tribhuvan University (TU) to scrap the affiliation of National College – that has neither students nor faculty, students or patients – at a rented apartment building at Anam Nagar in Kathmandu. The CPN-UML chairman KP Oli, however, immediately hit back, calling the decision 'unfair' and 'unjust'.
According to reports, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu has made several correspondents to the government through the ministry of foreign affairs to probe Ansari’s properties.
In its letter, the embassy has written that it has credible information that National Medical College, Birgunj received a large investment from Dawood, and under the UN Security Council Resolution number 1526, the property should be seized.
Following the embassy’s request some 12 years ago, the foreign ministry had forwarded the letter to the ministry of home affairs.
The government had – after the request from the Indian embassy – formed a probe committee but Ansari refused to assist them, saying that they did not have authority to probe his property and threatened to move the Supreme Court.
However, according to Ansari, he has long faced similar charges and claimed he was feeling 'insecure' as a mayoral candidate, though he did not disclose the reason for feeling threatened. 

Prime Minister's Office directs NOC to reduce fuel price

The government has directed Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to reduce fuel prices instantly in line with the decline in crude oil price in the international market. Similarly, the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) – through Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport – has also been directed to reduce public transportation fares. Stating that Nepali consumers have not been benefitting from the significant declines in international oil price, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) today wrote separately to the NOC and DoTM to slash fuel prices and revise public transport fares accordingly. The OPMCM spokesman Uttam Kumar Khatri confirmed that the office has written both the entities letters to slash the prices accordingly.
The office has, however, not clarified what action it would take, if the state entities not follow its directives. Earlier too, the office used to issue directives but the state entities are not responsible to either state or people.
Despite continuous drop in crude oil prices in the international market, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has not adjusted fuel prices downwards citing shortage of the petroleum products.
Though the crude oil price plunged to a 12-year low of $32 per barrel in the international market in January second week, Nepali consumers have not been able to benefit from it as the responsible bodies did not slash the fuel prices and transport fares, accordingly.
"While NOC has not reduced fuel price according to the declining crude oil price in the international market, the DoTM also has not reduced public transport fares,” said Khatri.
Earlier on January 18, NOC had reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 5 per liter and Rs 6 per liter, respectively, despite the automatic pricing system it adopted since almost a year ago. Currently, petrol costs Rs 99 and diesel and kerosene cost Rs 75 per liter, respectively.
Meanwhile, student unions affiliated to various political parties today organised a sit-in protest in front of NOC demanding smooth supply of petroleum products and action against the black-marketeers of petroleum products. Student unions affiliated with three Maoist parties – UCPN-Maoist, CPN-Maoist (Revolutionary) and CPN-Maoist – had staged sit-in protest in front of NOC's central office at Babarmahal in the afternoon. The NOC has been encouraging illegal import of petroleum products after Indian blockade – since September – that halted supply of fuel from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). The IOC that is the only supplier of fuel to NOC refused to supply essential fuel – despite the agreement between NOC and IOC to supply uninterrupted fuel – saying that it has no orders from Indian government to supply oil.
Likewise, the student unions have also demanded NOC to adjust fuel price in line with the decline in international crude price. They have also demanded that the NOC adopt long-term policies regarding production, supply and storage of petroleum products and end the ongoing crisis immediately.
Crude prices have been plummeting in the international market continuously since last four months but the state oil monopoly has not been revising the prices downwards, instead it has separted a huge chunk from its profits for bonus. The technically bankrupt NOC srill has to pay Rs 12 billion loan to the government. Earlier, it had Rs 32 billion loan last fiscal year.

We are handing a robust economy to the elected government: Koirala

The interim election council formed with a sole purpose of holding the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election is handing over a comparatively robust economy to the elected government, said the finance minister, here today.

Speaking with the journalists here today finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala said that the government was, though formed with a sole purpose of holding a free, fair and peaceful election, is handing a comparatively robust economy to the elected government in around a couple of weeks. "We have tried our best to stabilise the economy, if not better it," he said, adding that the current macroeconomic indicators are satisfactory.

The revenue growth rate stands at 27 per cent, which is encouraging, he said, adding that  deposits in the banks have also seen increment, though lending has been slowed down. "Even the Nepse index has rebounded to the four year high."

The political parties have included economic agenda in their election manifesto, which is not very different unlike earlier, he added. "Those who used to treat hydropower as political issues have come to the same understanding that it is a must to develop economy, which is also encouraging."

Likewise, the budget for the current fiscal year 2013-14 – announced by the incumbent government – has also based on common minimum economic agenda, making it easier for the elected government to own, Koirala claimed, adding that with a strong willpower, it is not impossible to bring change as the country does have enough resources.

"Blaming others is no solution to the development," said the former secretary-turned finance minister, sharing his both experience. "However, our bureaucracy is more process-oriented, which has been delaying the development works."

The country is taking part in the second CA election tomorrow, though the 33-party led by the hardliner CPN-Maoist party has been opposing the poll scheduled for November 19 blaming the incumbent government an unconstitutional one.

After the first CA failed – on May 28 – to draft a Constitution, the then UCPN-Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattrai-led government handed over the government to the former bureaucrats led by the chief justice Khila Raj Regmi, whom the CPN-Maoist have been asking to resign from the post of chief justice as the same person heading the judiciary and executive is against the Constitution.

However, Dr Bhattarai felt comfortable to hand over the government to the former bureaucrats – amending the interim Constitution – instead of the political parties due to political tug-of-war.

Despite various odds the incumbent government has fulfilled its duty, Koirala said, adding that he is ready to bid adieu satisfactorily after the elected government comes into shape in a couple of weeks.

Enough food, fuel stock will be able to check inflation: Baskota

As the people have feared of price hike of most of the essential food grains and vegetables due to bandh, a high government official today claimed that the general strike could not create shortage of food grains and fuel – that could shoot the inflation high up – as the Kathmandu valley has enough stock.

"The food grain stock will be enough for three weeks and petroleum products for some nine days," said secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister Krishna Hari Baskota, here today at a programme.

The 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist has announced general strike for 10 days starting from November 11 till November 20 to foil Constituent Assembly (CA) election that is scheduled on November 19.

Though the core city area has seen enough vehicles on the road, life in the Valley outskirts and out of the Valley has seen less vehicular movements due to fear of bandh callers, who have resorted to vandalism and arson.

Kathmandu Valley consumes around 350 metric tonnes to 400 metric tonnes of food grain daily, he said, adding that the Nepal Food corporation has 16,400 tonnes of food grain. "The food grain stock will be enough to control unnatural price hike."

likewise, Nepal Oil Corporation has 19,155 kilo litre (kl) petroleum products that is enough for nine days, Baskota added. "There will be no shortage of cooking gas and air turbine fuel (ATF) either."

Though the government has repeatedly failed to crack whip on inflation in the normal times too, he claimed that the general strike would not fuel the price, as the government is regularly monitoring the market.

However, after the agreement with the government yesterday, the transport entrepreneurs have started operating their vehicles. The government has yesterday assured the transporters to pay Rs 50,000 compensation immediately, if the vehicles is damaged by the poll-opposers.

Transporters to defy bandh from tomorrow

The government’s assurance for compensation and security today encouraged  transporters to defy general strike – from tomorrow – called by CPN-Maoist led 33-party alliance that is not only bleeding the economy white but also paralysing the day-to-day life of the citizens.
“The vehicles will ply on the road from tomorrow,” transport entrepreneur said, after entering an agreement with the government that has guaranteed security and compensation. They said they were not daring to defy the bandh because of the confusion over compensation and lack of security.
The government has today doubled the compensation amount to Rs 50,000 from earlier Rs 25,000 for the vehicles’ damage. The meeting under the chair of home minister today also decided to provide security, ensure smooth supply of peroeum products, and compensate the transporters immediately.
“We have entered into an agreement on compensation, insurance and medical facility with the government today,” he said, adding that they are, though, against the bandh, they could not defy the strike due to lack of security and confusion over compensation.
Vice president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradeep Jung Pandey, on the occasion, asked the people to vote for the party that promises not to call bandh in future. “Strike will hurt the economy that is already suffering from under production due to regular power outage and labour trouble,” he said, adding that strike is also a violation of rights to economic freedom of people.
According to Tourist Guide Association of Nepal president Hareram Baral some 50 per cent tourists cancelled their bookings due to the strike.
October and November are the tourist reasons but due to fear of escalating the violence before the Constituent Assembly (CA) election, the US, the UK and some other countries have issued the travel advisory.
The CPN-Maoist led 33-party alliance is against holding the CA election by the incumbent interim election government led by chief justice Khil Raj Regmi, whom they have termed ‘unconstitutional.’
Nepal Freight Forwarders Association treasurer Rajendra Sangraula informed that due to bandh some 300 containers have been stranded in Birgunj and the country has not been able to export hurting the country’s export earnings.
Meanwhile, the FNCCI has also called people to take part in a peace rally tomorrow morning to protest against the agitating parties that have called 10-day general strike from November 11 to November 20 to force the government postpone the CA election.

Can private sector tame the ultras?

Since the government today sought private sector’s help to foil the general strike tomorrow called by the 33-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist, could the private sector tame the ultras, who are hellbent on disrupting the Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19 ?
The poll opposing 33-party alliance led by the breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist has, though reduced their 10-day general strike to only one day for tomorrow and announced transportation strike for the remaining days till November 20, will the private sector dare to open industries and challenge, like once before, and send a clear message that ‘enough is enough’.
If the private sector dare to send a clear message to the ultras, it might change the thinking pattern of political parties in the future.
The alliance that has been opposing the idea of CA election under the ‘unconstitutional’ government since the formation of the incumbent government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi may have its own political agenda but taking the country hostage and blackmailing the bureaucratic government might backfire them as the people and the country will have to pay the price.
Today finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala, who is also commerce and supplies, and trade minister sought the private sector’s help in foiling the general strike. “The private sector has defied bandh earlier too,” he said, asking the entrepreneurs to keep schools, shops and industries open and let public vehicles ply on the streets. “A day of bandh would cost the country around Rs 2.5 billion per day,” Koirala added.
Urging the private sector to lead in government’s efforts to foil the general strike, the minister also promised 90 per cent compensation for the vehicles damaged. “Since the dissenting parties are not in a mood to listen to the government, they might listen to the private sector,” he said, adding that the business fraternity might help normalise political environment.
The chieftain of the private sector, on the occasion, committed to defy the bandh and hold talks with the CPN-Maoist and its leaders provided the government guarantees security.
“Though, we have always been against bandhs, the entrepreneurs will not get into confrontation and try to deal the issue peacefully,” assured president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Suraj Vaidya.
However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) president Narendra Kumar Basnyat said that they will defy the bandh, if the government guarantee the security.
Despite the government’s warning to take strong action against the poll-opposers, the ultras have not given much ear to it. The psychological war between the government and ultras is going to cost the country, if the private sector could not work its magic again.

Entrepreneurs ask Baidhya to call off 10-day long strike

The entrepreneurs today met with the CPN-Maoist leaders and asked them to withdraw their 10-day strike scheduled to start from next Monday.
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Suraj vaidya led team met with the Mohan Baidhya led CPN-Maoist that has been leading the Constituent Assembly  (CA) election – scheduled for November 19 – disrupting 33-party alliance and urged them to call off strikes ahead of the election.
Vaidya, on the occasion, highlighted the negative impact of bandh on economy and daily livelihood of common people.
Responding to the business fraternity, Baidhya said they were forced to call the bandh as the three major political parties failed to listen their genuine concern. "We were ready to take part in the CA election," Baidhya said, adding that the major parties have forced them to go to street instead of election.
The Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist and 33-party alliance had asked the chairman of the interim election council to resign from the post of chief justice. "But the major parties stood behind the chief justice-led election government that is unconstitutional.