Rastriya Prajatantra Party Whip Khushbu Oli Alleges Government Tax Policy Favors Special Interests

Kathmandu. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Khushbu Oli has accused the government of bringing a tax policy that increases the influence of special interest groups. She made this accusation while participating in the discussion on the Finance Bill, 2083, presented by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle on Friday. Chief Whip Oli objected to the government retaining unlimited authority regarding taxes and even violating its limits. She expressed strong dissatisfaction in parliament, stating that the government has added tax policies detrimental to government hospitals and public schools. Speaking in the discussion, Oli said, 'New fees and taxes have been added to the bill. Education service fee, education equality fee, health equality fee, health infrastructure investment fee. The education fee might be acceptable. But what is the assurance that the quality of government schools will improve through the education equality fee? Similarly, where is the legal provision for the rural health system to be strengthened through the health equality fee?' She commented that although a mechanism for collecting fees has been created, its results are not yet evident. She claimed that the real problem lies in the structure rather than just adding fees. She further said, 'The real questions are why public schools are weak? Why have government hospitals not been effective? The solution may not lie solely in fees. Our problem is structural. The bill gives the government wide discretion to reduce or increase taxes. What is the limit of this authority? How is transparency ensured? Where is parliamentary control? This appears to increase the influence of special interest groups.'