According to a highly-placed source, District President of Nepali Congress Uddhav Thapa, District In-Charge of Maoist Jhalak Darlami, and District President of CPN-UML Rabin Koirala, along with leading entrepreneurs like former President of FNCCI Chandi Raj Dhakal recently met different ministers and pushed for transfer of Shah for spoiling business environment. [break]
“Political leaders and business persons met Home Minister Bijaya Gachhadar, Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun, Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota and Inspector General of Police Rabindra Pratap Shah in Kathmandu to lobby for the transfer,” said the source.
Political leaders and business persons in the district have justified their lobbying for the transfer of DIG Shah, saying the DIG is against the betle nuts business that has flourished in the region since 1993.
According to government data, more than two dozen firms in Jhapa district - which is a major betle nut producing district - import betle nuts from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Though such imports are meant for local consumption, police say a major chunk of these imports find way to India through foul nexus of traders, politicians and local chambers that are authorized to issue certificate of origin, which certifies the product is produced in Nepal.
To get this nexus going, traders said each of these firms has been pooling in Rs 20,000 and ´gifting´ the money to political leaders.
“After Shah launched the drive against the unauthorized trade, local leaders initially pressed Chief District Officer of Jhapa Geha Nath Bhandari to get DIG Shah transferred,” said the source. “But after Bhandari declined to do so, they are now trying to influence top leaders and government officials.”
District Maoist In-Charge Darlami admitted they approached senior cabinet ministers and government officials on the issue, but added they took such initiatives only after betle nut traders have started protesting against DIG Shah´s actions.
“We met ministers and senior government officials in order to convey the local voice to the central level leaders,” Darlami said, adding that Home and Finance Ministers have promised to take their demands positively.
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