MP Manish Jha Advocates for Fact-Based Parliamentary Committee Discussions

Kathmandu. National Independent Party (NIP) MP Manish Jha has stated that discussions in parliamentary committees should be based on facts and data, not on Facebook statuses or assumptions. Speaking at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, MP Jha said that the practice of hastily forming an investigation committee without even listening to the response of the concerned body on any issue raises questions about the very purpose of the meeting.

He disagreed with the demand to form an investigation committee as soon as questions arise regarding budget formulation or other issues, without listening to the minister's response. "If we form an investigation committee immediately without giving the person being questioned a chance to respond, then why is this meeting needed? We might as well just send the demand letter directly," Jha said.

He stated that regarding 30 vehicles that arrived from the Rasuwa border crossing, the customs duty appears to have increased, which has benefited the state and put the traders at a disadvantage.

He also claimed that customs duty has increased for vehicles arriving from the Korala border crossing. He said, "Are we raising issues based on Facebook statuses, or do we have data? We should not form investigation committees based on what someone writes on Facebook; let's demand official data from the concerned bodies and debate on it."

MP Jha pointed out the need for extensive reforms in Nepal's customs system. He said, "When money was being transferred from one shop to another from his own shop, the police caught him and handed him over to customs. Even when the businessman presented evidence, he was not heard, and ultimately, he had to sell his land to pay the bank interest."

He demanded that the practice of vehicles and other materials being stuck in customs premises for years, turning those places into junkyards, should be improved.