Kathmandu, January 14
In the wake of criticisms from various walks of life about facilities provided to the VIP officials including the President and the Vice President, a key leader of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, suggests the officials give up the luxuries so as to protect them from public hatred.
Krishna Prasad Sitaula says President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Vice President are not feudal lords, but representatives of people; therefore they should consider the lifestyle of people at the grassroots while living their life.
“Look at the minimum salary of our staff. Do you know the salary of office assistants? Or primary school teachers? Do you know the status of workers and peasants?” Sitauala says in an interview with Onlinekhabar, “The President and the Vice President, as guardians of the nation, should remember people at the bottom.”
Citing that both Bhandari and Pun spent their life in the politics of communist parties, Sitauala suggests the leaders should give up the luxurious facilities.
“I wish the leaders would tell the government that they did not need the facilities. Why do they need expensive helicopters and choppers?” he adds, “Facilities for the staff officials should be decided considering the country’s and its people’s financial condition.”
