National
Govt decision to provide medical expense to Sujata triggers social media backlash
The government decision to provide Rs five million to Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala for medical treatment of her breast cancer has triggered a backlash in the social media.Anuj Kumar Adhikari
The government decision to provide Rs five million to Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala for medical treatment of her breast cancer has triggered a backlash in the social media.
The Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to allocate the fund for Koirala’s treatment despite the public outcry. Leader Koirala is in Singapore for a follow-up treatment at St Luke's Hospital. Her earlier reported demand for Rs10 million had drawn widespread criticisms.
The Cabinet decision also drew flak from various parliamentarians in Sunday's House meet. They argued that the decision was made in ad-hoc manner and would send wrong message to public.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader and Health Minister Gagan Thapa, who had put forth a proposal to fix the ceiling for medical fund to state VIPs at Rs1.5 million, has protested the Cabinet decision taken during his absence.
He said that his effort to stop such political culture of distributing funds in arbitrary manner to VIPs in the name of medical expenses has become futile.
"It is unfortunate that my efforts to stop political tradition of giving excessive public medical bill for VIPs have failed for now," Minister Thapa wrote in a tweet on Monday.
(1/3) It is unfortunate that my efforts to stop the political tradition of giving excessive public medical $ for VIPs has failed for now. pic.twitter.com/ezyK4VIVdR
— Gagan Thapa (@thapagk) November 14, 2016
Also, people have taken to twitter to vent their frustration over the government's decision.
Financing #medicaltourism of political leaders is a shame and a presage of #statefailure @thapagk @Hello_Sarkar
20.#donate_१_rupaiya_to_sujata_koirala
— बिग्रेको मान्छे (@BijayGajurel) November 14, 2016
Perks of leaders :
Countless commoners do so much for #nepal some but rich & privileged leader drain nation dry. #sujatakoirala
— Archana Thapa (@archana_thapa) November 14, 2016
Who is Sujata ? I don't know her any concrete contribution to the nation . Or She is showing the power of Koirala family . Poor elites !
— Pramisha Thapaliya © (@misha_pra) November 13, 2016
Sujata Koirala receiving 50 lakhs from government is an insult to citizenry. It must be condemned with strongest voices. Shame @thapagk
— शरद ऋतु (@saradritu1) November 13, 2016