MP Baral Criticizes Government's Performance, Border Disputes, and Tax Policies

Kathmandu. Communist Party of Nepal (UML) MP Guru Prasad Baral has strongly criticized the government's working style, border disputes, and the manipulation of tax rates in the budget. Speaking to journalists outside the Federal Parliament Building on Monday, he alleged that the current government has completely failed in these important aspects, stating that the country can only move forward through good governance and the rule of law. MP Baral claimed that Indian encroachment has begun in the Susta region due to the Prime Minister's recent statement, and that the citizens there are defending their land on their own due to the absence of state presence. He expressed serious dissatisfaction that the border issue was not mentioned at all during the Foreign Minister's recent visit to India, and demanded that concrete discussions be held regarding the tri-border point of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani during the current visit to China. Similarly, Baral commented that the Finance Minister's manipulation of tax rates through the budget was undesirable and motivated by the intention to benefit only certain parties. He specifically termed bringing domestic consumers who consume more than 50 units of electricity into the tax net as an attack on the people's kitchens. MP Baral also condemned the alleged statement by the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport threatening to break the legs of construction entrepreneurs. Stating that physical assault and violence have no place in the rule of law, he mentioned that while entrepreneurs who do not work should be punished and fined according to the law, threatening physical assault is contrary to democratic values and norms. Responding to the government's warning of opening files of various past scandals, MP Baral clarified that the CPN (UML) is always ready to face any investigation and trial by fire. Expressing sorrow over the incident in Godavari, Far-West, where forest rangers allegedly pushed a woman off a cliff, he termed it as arrogance of power. He argued that such activities cause great injustice to the poor and working-class citizens. MP Baral also urged the government to immediately control the unchecked inflation and the increase in education sector fees and move towards good governance.