LAWMAKERS URGE STRONG ACTION AGAINST VAT EVADERS

LAWMAKERS URGE STRONG ACTION AGANST VAT EVADERS
Kathmandu, 3 Oct.: Lawmakers have stressed for taking stern action against those Industrial institutions and companies, who encourage duplicate bills to evade Value Added Tax (VAT), RSS reports.

During the meeting called by the Public Account Committee (PAC) to inform the committee and its members about the evading of VAT by 437 industries and firms which was made public by the Ministry of Finance last Sunday as per the direction given by the National Information Commission, the lawmakers said evading tax was like printing fake currency notes and that stern action should be taken against the guilty.

They also directed the ministry to determine the tax as per the amount embezzled and not to let escape them who enjoy the tax refund, but make serious financial crimes on the basis of duplicate bills.

The lawmakers urged the authorities concerned to end such non-transparent activities saying the guilty people will be encouraged to such illegal activities unless the government works with full commitment and sincerity.

Some of the lawmakers expressed their anger saying the ministry has undermined the supremacy of the parliament by handing over the report to no-government organisations and accused that the report that was made public was also wrong.

The lawmakers stressed on the need for preserving secrecy of the tax payers instead of the secrecy of crime and urged the Ministry to be clear when some of the industrial institutions claim to be innocent and some others have challenged to prove the claim.

Some of the participants said the importance of the constitutional body was highlighted when the direction of the National Information Commission was followed and said that this showed that the times of hiding information had ended.

Information Commissioner Sabita Bhandari said the Commission has directed the Ministry to make the report of those who were involved in deceiving VAT public as per the Interim Constitution's Article 27 saying it was done using the Right to Information Act.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry Krishnahari Banskota said information should not be hidden or distorted and works done with good intention should not be blamed, and added that details cannot be given affecting the investigation.

Participating in the discussion held under the chairmanship of Committee President Ram Krishna Yadav were Prakshchandra Lohani, Rabindra Adhikari, Keshav Neupane, Lalbabu Pandit who demanded punishment to the guilty to the maximum extent. Chief Commissioner Binaya Kumar Kasaju, Commissioner Shri Acharya and senior officials of the Ministry and Inland Revenue Department also participated in the discussion.

The Ministry is investigating into 372 companies on suspicion of using fake VAT bills
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CPM (ML) WELCOMES SEVEN-POINT ACCORD WITH RESERVATION
Kathmandu, 3 Nov.: The Politburo meeting of the CPN-ML has welcomed the seven-point deal signed among the three major political parties, RSS reports..

The party, issuing a press release on Thursday said the agreement could pave the way to forward the peace and constitution drafting processes though there were some challenges.

The party however, condemned the narrow-minded trend of the major three parties for not involving other parties representing the Constituent Assembly in the discussion, statement further reads.
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