Monday, August 13, 2012

Maoist probe panel gets most complaints against Dahal

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, Aug 13: With its extended deadline for receiving complaints of financial irregularities expiring on Sunday, the high-level probe commission on property and financial condition of the UCPN (Maoist) has received a barrage of complaints against Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other senior leaders of the party for their “poor handling” of the party´s funds.

Though the exact number of complaints against Dahal and other senior leaders, including Prime Minister´s wife Hishila Yami, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Barshaman Pun, Janardan Sharma, Agni Sapkota, Prabhu Sah and Lekhraj Bhatta has not been revealed, knowledgeable sources told Republica that most of the complaints are against Dahal.

"Most of the complaints are against Dahal. He has been accused of being the root cause of financial irregularities in the party,” said the source familiar with the nature of complaints. “The party´s funds were handled by Dahal but he neither has the details of expenses nor where the money went.” However, the complaints do not specify the amount of money misused by Dahal, the source added. The recently-held plenum of the party had formed the commission after the participants in the gathering raised the issue of financial irregularities in the party, demanding a probe.

The commission has also received a significant number of complaints against his nephew Samir Dahal, who was until recently the head of Dahal´s secretariat.

Complaints against leader Mahara accuse him of embezzling the money provided by the government for the combatants in 2006, said sources. He had received Rs 4 million from the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction for making initial arrangements for the combatants in the cantonments. Similarly, other complaints against him relate to his decision to award operating license to Hello Nepal of Ajaya Sumargi, a businessman believed close to Dahal.
Similarly, the complaints against former minister Janardan Sharma accuse him of financial irregularities while making investment in Janamaitri Hospital, proposed Moonlight television and Nepal FM, said sources.

Similarly, former PLA deputy commanders Barshaman Pun, Nanda Kishor Pun and Chandra Prakash Khanal have also been accused of financial irregularities, while Madhes-based Maoist leaders have been accused of accepting bribes to influence murder cases.

Former minister and former Tamsaling state committee in-charge [now party spokesperson] Sapkota and newly appointed member of the general convention organizing committee member and former state minister Devi Khadka have been accused of involvement in smuggling of red sandalwood.

In-charges of state committees Hemant Prakash Oli, Haribol Gajurel, Devendra Paudel and Gopal Kirati also face allegations of financial irregularities in the party. Paudel is prime minister´s political advisor.

Likewise, there is not a single division commander against whom complaints have not been filed. All of them have been accused of financial irregularities in the cantonments.

However, complaints against division commanders Santa Kumar Darai and Yam Bahadur Adhikari are fewer compared to others.
Former YCL valley chief Chandra Bahadur Thapa and Maoist trade union chief Shalikram Jamakattel have also been accused of extorting hotels, restaurants and casinos.

Head of the commission Amik Sherchan said the commission will investigate the complaints.
from Republica

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