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Kathmandu Wednesday December 26, 2001 Paush 11, 2058.
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Bold move
A verbal directive has been issued by the
Ministry of Finance to the political parties stating that party members who have failed to
pay income tax will have to disclose their sources of wealth. This is an encouraging move.
It is no doubt an attempt to bring our political leaders under the tax net. Those who have
been evading taxes have to disclose their sources of income by the second week of January.
The government has even warned that such individuals will face stern action if they
continue to evade taxes or fail to disclose their income sources in time. This is a very
bold step that the government has taken against those political leaders who have amassed
wealth but failed to pay any taxes for years. Such a timely verbal warning also underlines
the need for honesty on the part of political leaders. It is too early to say how many of
them will submit statements on their sources of income or will do so without any further
prompting.
A list of tax evaders prepared by the internal
revenue department includes ministers and political leaders both in power and in
opposition, apart from assorted industrialists and businessmen. The government has not yet
disclosed the names of those who have been evading the taxman. The list has been compiled
at a time when the country is facing a budgetary crunch in fighting the Maoist war. Such a
list inclusive of political bigwigs has been prepared only after repeated reminders to
successive governments. Some of our political leaders have amassed wealth at cost to the
state treasury, and that too with the knowledge of the government. Since the restoration
of democracy, the state run corporations have been collapsing one after another as a
result of the corruption that has eaten away at their vitals. Yet the government has taken
no action against those involved in such mal-practices. It is sorrowful to note that there
is not a single public sector corporation which runs at a profit. Billions of rupees are
being pumped out of the state treasury to keep these afloat, and all because of the
financial hemorrhaging they are subjected to by unscrupulous functionaries and their
political bosses.
A 1990 cabinet decision clearly states that
"every minister whether in power or out of power has to disclose his or her sources
of income within 15 days." Of the present forty two ministers, forty have not
submitted any statement on their sources of income even six months after coming to power,
leave aside politicians of the opposition parties. Narahari Acharya has not been able to
locate the office where he can pay his taxes. There are many other political leaders who
are in no better shape. And less than one percent of the total population pays their taxes
regularly in this country. This also speaks volumes about how many of our political
leaders are honestly committed to the country’s development. It likewise reflects the
public’s lack of confidence that the taxes they pay will be put to proper use by
their elected representatives and the government machinery. |
