April 28: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat on Friday made it clear that national coffers will be not misused unnecessarily. 

The Finance Ministry has made it clear that they will not distribute NPR 2000 to each of the disqualified former Maoist combatants, following rumors suggesting that such a plan was underway.

Minister Mahat assured the public that he would not misuse state funds by doling out cash to particular individuals.He urged everyone to dispel doubts regarding his ministry's alleged plan to distribute cash to ex-Maoist combatants and pledged to rise above partisan politics and work for the country and its people.

Although the budget speech for the current fiscal year incorporated the issue of the management of disqualified People's Liberation Army soldiers, the Ministry has not made any decisions regarding providing them with cash.

Mahat added that the court has issued a verdict on the issue of disqualified ex-Maoist combatants, and the budget has also mentioned it, but no decision has been made since he assumed office.

Mahat expressed his lack of knowledge about the work procedure endorsed by the Council of Ministers to proceed with cash distribution on this matter.

Minister Mahat informed that the Home Ministry has the responsibility to formulate the work procedure and manage the budget, and he has only heard about the formulation of the work procedure but has no further information.

Mahat reiterated that the government would not misappropriate the state coffers in the name of disqualified combatants.

Mahat  further stated that his party, the Nepali Congress, is concerned about this issue, and since it is a conflict-era case, it would be appropriate to allow the Truth Commission to settle it.