Kathmandu,
Feb. 10: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said the political consensus
would be forged within a few days to hold the Constituent Assembly election by
May.
Speaking at a programme organized on
establishment day of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority
(CIAA) here today, he said, "We are towards political resolution soon
passing through the existing political deadlock."
He
said the current government had declared the fresh CA elections and that the
government was committed to following the political consensus made by keeping
the CA election in focus.
Prime
Minister Dr. Bhattarai said the corrupt activities that have been a global
challenge, has also plagued Nepal as well, adding that institutionalizing and
strengthening democracy was only possible through fair, transparent, responsible
and corruption less state mechanism.
The
building of the new prosperous Nepal was possible through corruption less
society, and through good governance, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said,
adding, "The society will have the discrimination, partiality and
injustice unless corruption comes to an end in the country and that good
governance as expected was not possible, and therefore, national development
would be pushed years away."
Prime
Minister Dr. Bhattarai said it was necessary to end social crimes like
corruption and that the government has kept the issues of corruption control in
the centre and that it has been making efforts to develop zero tolerance
against corruption among all.
Dr.
Bhattarai said he was for strengthening the CIAA to make the legal action
against the people who encourage corruption, adding that at a time when the
process of appointing the CIAA officials was in the final phase, the
Legislature-Parliament was dissolved thereby disrupting the process. "It
has made me sad," said the Prime Minister.
The
first and foremost responsibility has gone to the civil servants now, he said
and directed that one and all should work from today for the anti-corruption
campaign.
Guaranteeing good governance with the establishment
of corruption-free society by making the Commission's role more effective was
the prime need of the hour, the PM said.Commission Secretary Ganesh Raj Joshi
briefed the PM of the activities conducted by the Commission throughout the
year.
The Commission had filed 111 cases in a year and
succeeded in collecting revenue of Rs. 470 million in fines. Besides, it has already directed the bodies
concerned to register 1,900 ropanis of land in the government's name.
President of Transparency International Nepal,
Bishnu Bahadur KC urged the PM to make appointments to the vacant posts at the
Commission as quickly as possible.Image of Nepalis in the international arena
has been tarnished due to rampant corruption in the country, he said.
Commission Joint Attorney Rhisiram Dawadi said
corruption control was the top priority of the Commission and it had been
working accordingly.
On the occasion, Commission's former secretaries Jeet
Bahadur Manandhar and Ambika Bhakta Sharma were honoured and prizes were given
away to the winners of different competitions like essay writing and cartoon
drawing held on the occasion of the
commission anniversary.
Similarly, the PM honoured the best performers
within the Commission with cash prizes and letters of appreciationThe PM, on
the occasion, unveiled a souvenir published by the commission, marking its 22nd
anniversary.
A survey conducted by the
Transparency International has placed Nepal in 139th position among
176 countries in the world in corruption point of corruption. Various posts
including the key ones at the Commission have been lying vacant for the past
three years and its business is being looked after by civil servants.
Comments