Kathmandu. CPN (Maoist Centre) Deputy General Secretary and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said that they have not levelled allegations of middlemen targeting any party, leader or individual.
Speaking at a pre-budget discussion programme organized in the capital on Thursday, Pun said that middlemen are more of a tendency than a person. He said that they have been calling the tendency of monopolizing and colluding with the economy by influencing the political leadership and the state machinery as middlemen.
Making it clear that those who earn money without investment are middlemen, Pun urged those doing business by investing not to understand the meaning of being accused of middlemen. Pun stressed that the country should face a worse economic situation if the middlemen trend could not be stopped.
“We have termed the tendency to take advantage of the political leadership and the state machinery without investment as middlemen,” pun said, adding, “We have not targeted any party, leader or individual.” Unless this trend changes, economic recovery is not possible. ’
Pun said the government should work by keeping the private sector in the driver’s seat. He drew the attention of the government to stop the current trend of regulatory bodies acting as players themselves, which would harm the economy. Pun urged Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, who was present at the programme, to stop the manipulation in tax rate revision. Pun clarified that he did not change the tax rates to benefit anyone and harm anyone while preparing the budget for the current fiscal year as finance minister. “While preparing the budget for the current fiscal year, I did not change the tax rates to benefit any business house and to cause loss to anyone. I can say this in front of all businessmen even today,” pun said, adding, “I would like to advise the current finance minister to do the same without any pressure.” ’
