Pokhara, 11 April | CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has criticized the current government and emerging political forces, claiming that their promise of “good governance” has been exposed as ineffective and misleading. He argued that those who came to power advocating transparency and accountability have failed to uphold these principles, raising serious concerns about governance standards in the country.
Speaking at a public event on Saturday, Pokharel stated that the conduct of ministers and the Speaker has undermined the credibility of the government’s commitment to transparency. He particularly questioned the financial disclosures of Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, calling for clarity regarding the source of wealth reportedly earned abroad and whether applicable taxes have been paid to the state.
Pokharel emphasized that there is nothing wrong with an individual progressing from a laborer to a business owner, but insisted that such growth must be accompanied by financial transparency and legal compliance. He said that the public deserves to know how such assets were accumulated and whether they meet regulatory standards.
In addition, he expressed dissatisfaction over delays by government ministers in submitting their property details, suggesting that such reluctance contradicts the ideals of good governance. He maintained that leaders of his party are ready to undergo any form of scrutiny, and challenged others to demonstrate a similar level of accountability.
Pokharel also accused the investigation commission formed to probe the Gen Z movement of being used as a political tool to target CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli. He described the move as an act of political vendetta and warned that his party would strongly resist any attempts to harass its leadership through such mechanisms.
Reiterating his stance, Pokharel stated that good governance should not be used as a weapon against opponents but must be practiced sincerely by those in power.
