Bhattarai warns PM against indulging in smear campaign

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, February 26 Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, who chairs Federal Council of Samajbadi Party-Nepal, warned Prime Minister
KP Sharma Oli against indulging in smear campaign against him over his government decision to grant ownership to tillers of land plots owned
by late king Mahendra, which was later brought under Nepal Trust. Speaking at the House of Representatives today, Bhattarai said his
government decision to register Nepal Trust land in Matatirtha, Ichangu, Mahadevsthan and Satungal areas in the names of tillers was
legally, politically and morally right. Bhattarai said his government decision was based on the opinions by Office of the Attorney General
and a committee that comprised then secretary of Nepal Trust. Bhattarai clarification came days after PM Oli briefed the HoR of the
achievements of his government in last two years when the PM said his government would investigate Bhattarai-government decision to register
Nepal Trust land in individuals& names. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel also issued a white paper saying
Bhattarai government was responsible for registering Nepal Trust land in individuals& names. Bhattarai said Patan Appellate Court (now Patan
High Court) had ruled in a case saying that his government decision to give ownership rights of the Nepal Trust land to individuals was
lawful as it was a policy decision. Bhattarai said the PM was acting like former chief of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of
Authority Lokman Singh Karki, who abused his power to intimidate people. He reminded PM Oli how attack by Oli loyalists on him in 1994
inflamed the people war launched by the Maoist party
Bhattarai said he was attacked during his attempt to submit Maoist party memorandum to Oli, who was home minister back then
Bhattarai said late King Mahendra had decided to get his land plots registered in the names of tillers. Since some poor and ignorant tillers
could not register those land plots in their names in the past, his government had decided to register those land plots in their
names. Bhattarai charged that Oli government was trying to snatch tenants& land so he could hand over those to Yeti Holdings. Bhattarai also
told the House that assets of all the leaders, who previously owned simple houses in villages but have built mansions in the city, should be
investigated. We all know we cannot build good Houses in Kathmandu with known source of income, he said. Deuba denies his involvement The
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