Probably, corruption control and good governance are the most trending topics in Nepali political circles at the moment. New/old, ruling party/opposition leaders who are/are not on the 'radar' of corruption/irregularity loudly shout the 'gossip' of good governance. There is hardly a leader who does not worry about the increase in corruption.

Prime Minister KP Oli is the first to talk about corruption control and good governance. Having become the Prime Minister for the fourth time, in the past 6/7 months, he has repeated several times that he will not commit corruption and will not allow others to do it. However, his determination and commitment have not touched the general public at all. The

did not touch the opposition parties. The opposition parties and leaders criticize the government in unison and say, "Corruption has increased under the protection of the government." One issue is often brought up while accusing the other of being corrupt. That is, the issue of probing the wealth of leaders and high officials in positions of profit.

From the house to the streets, from party meetings to public circles, leaders from both the ruling/opposition sides constantly raise this issue. However, the government has not shown readiness to form such a commission. After all, why is this issue raised only for public consumption? If the need for a

commission is realized, why is it not formed? What is the effectiveness of existing mechanisms such as authority, national vigilance center etc. for corruption control and good governance, how much are they sufficient? Does the leadership have the political will and honesty to control corruption? This discussion will be focused on these and similar questions raised with the issue of formation of the commission. 

At the beginning, let's briefly discuss how the Nepali society is affected by corruption. 

In simple language, if it is proven that any person or organization has obtained financial benefits illegally, it is called corruption. Corruption is not only depraved behavior and corrupt dignity, it is also a financial/social crime.

When and how corruption started in the society, we have to read the books of Puranas and Vedas to find its roots. According to the Rigveda, corruption is misappropriation of public funds, taking bribes from state exchequer and state treasury. In other words, the corruption that is expanding as a social disease was there before. 

When turning the pages of history, there are examples of rulers misusing the resources of the state to maintain power. It is recorded in the history that the kings before Lichchavi king Vrishadeva used to regularly pay taxes as a bribe to the Indian ruler Samudragupta so that he would not attack his kingdom. Historians have also commented on the fact that Mandev I created many inscriptions from the state treasury in praise of his Baje-Baraju as an example of misuse of state funds.

There are many examples of abuse of power and power by past rulers in different periods such as the time of the Shah Dynasty kings, the Jahanian dynasty, the transition period after 2007 or the subsequent Panchayat governance system. From Prithvi Narayan Shah's statement that "both those who take bribes and those who give bribes are enemies of the state" it is not difficult to guess that corruption has taken root since then. 

However, this article is not trying to generalize the current corruption as it was in the past. Instead, why could not the political leadership that came to power give good governance after declaring a commitment not to repeat corruption like in the past? Why did you wake up? It is meant to be exposed. 

After the emergence of Nepal's democracy, one of the main expectations of the common people was good governance. There have been many democratic movements in Nepal due to the fact that the previous rulers misused the state resources under the guise of autocracy, and the common people were not able to guarantee their basic rights. But ironically, the supporters of the democratic movement are immersed in the state of corruption in a more shameful way than in the past.

People who have entered politics and administration from ordinary backgrounds have had opaque lifestyles and surprisingly varied finances. The roots of political corruption are so entrenched that, its scope is widening and it has covered the judiciary, civil administration and all. As the size of the budget increases every year, the volume of corruption is expanding. 

As corruption and misrule increase, frustration and discontent among the people is increasing. And, the target of that discontent is the main political leadership. Due to the failure of the government to provide good governance, domestic frustration and discontent is increasing, and on top of that, Nepal's international image is also getting tarnished. We are constantly being included in the list of highly corrupt countries. 

According to Transparency International's 2024 report, Nepal's governance situation is deteriorating. In the year 2023, Nepal got number 35 out of 100 in good governance. In 2024, one digit has been reduced to 34.

i.e. the situation of good governance has not improved. Transparency International releases a Corruption Perceptions Report every year. He lists countries that score less than 50 out of 100 as highly corrupt. 

Nepal, which has earned international 'notoriety' for being a highly corrupt country, has recently been placed on the 'grey list' of wealth laundering and has received another 'degree' in terms of opacity and financial chaos. The recent meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris has placed Nepal on the 'grey list'. Moreover, after US President Donald Trump termed some of the financial grants received by Nepal as 'fraud', it has become a subject of 'national humiliation'. As a

, the steps and words of Trump, who is practicing 'new fascism' while demeaning democracy, are the subject of a different discussion. However, his statement referring to Nepal is painful when we see that our image is becoming opaque, dependent and greedy in the outside world. 

On the one hand, the country has been put on the watch list as a 'black money protection nation', has turned into a country with highly corrupt people, an incompetent political leadership that cannot deliver services, and the general public is angry and dissatisfied with the government. On the other hand, listening to our Prime Minister KP Oli, it seems that we are in 'Ram Rajya'.

At the book release of Mrs. Radhika Shakya, he says, 'People have access to my bedroom. I eat ordinary dalroti, that too surrounded by those people.' During the book release, both the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's wife tried to summarize, Oli is a hard-working leader who prefers a simple lifestyle. He is not greedy. If he did, he would add as much property as his friends told him. The house in Balkot is also a national property that has been given to the trust, etc. etc. 

When listening to the Oli family, it seems that it is the 'luck' of the common Nepalese to have a leader like Oli in the current Vaishya era. However, the matter does not wet the shavings. Who are those people who have access to the Prime Minister's bedroom while he is eating Dalroti? His family, party workers, leaders, cabinet members or middlemen in these various guises? How and with whom Oli facilitated the alliance with the Congress is a matter known to the world. Therefore, it is particularly unfortunate that the Prime Minister has to repeatedly explain to the public that he does not do corruption and will not allow it to be done. 

Especially, corruption will not be brought to the country by singing the song of 'not doing or letting it be done'. For good governance, some things should be practiced. For example, institutions with the responsibility of corruption control should be strengthened, such as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Department of Revenue Investigation, National Vigilance Center, and Asset Laundering.

Coordinating between these bodies, it should be ensured that there is no unnecessary political interference. In practice, appointing parties and political influence, handing over the keys to corruption control to the "puppets" of parties and leaders, and how can corruption be reduced? 

There are other precedents against Vani who does not and does not allow corruption of the Prime Minister. As such, the Abuse of Authority Investigation Bill is stalled in the parliamentary committee. Because of whom? The news is being spread that the Prime Minister himself is the reason for being stuck in the committee. It is said that the bill stalled after Oli and Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba were dissatisfied with the definition made by the sub-committee on political corruption.

Encouraging political corruption by taking even small issues to the cabinet and banning the authority to investigate such decisions? And how about zero tolerance for corruption? For seven months, the Oli cabinet has not released the property details. Legally, property details must be submitted within two months of assuming office. There is a trend of making it public. But it has not been made public yet. Does this trend foster or increase transparency?

To truly implement corruption control, transparency must be embraced in practice, not in words. We should be able to create a working environment free from influence and appointment based on merit rather than quotas. Moreover, if Prime Minister Oli is to carry the issue of corruption control and good governance, there should be no delay in forming a powerful wealth commission to investigate the wealth of political/administrative persons in positions of profit including himself.

At present, the issue of forming a powerful property commission has become an issue for all political parties. The General Minister of the ruling coalition Congress, Gagan Thapa, has been continuously demanding that after 2046, the assets of those holding positions of profit should be investigated.

Although he has raised the issue in public forums, perhaps he has not pressured the government internally. Swarnim Wagle, the leader of Rashtriya Swatantra Party, has been saying that he will continue to raise the demand for investigation of the assets of those who are sitting in positions of profit in the House. However, his party has also not been able to put pressure on the government for the formation of this commission, apart from having a formal opinion.

Leaders including Barshman Pun of the Maoist Center have also demanded a powerful Property Commission. Well, in the last central committee meeting of this party, it was raised that the assets of the leaders should be investigated. Prachanda has also promised to investigate the assets of all the leaders, but there is no information that such an investigation has been started so far. RPP's Rajendra Lingden has also been raising the issue of asset investigation in the House from time to time.

Some of the leaders of the UML are also of the opinion that the assets of those who are in positions of profit should be investigated. In other words, the issue of forming a powerful asset investigation commission is the issue of all political parties and leaders. Now let it be a government issue. It is not a weapon of revenge like King Gyanendra made in the past, but the formation of a powerful property investigation commission with qualified people to carry out impartial and objective investigations has become the need of the moment. 

On Saturday, Prime Minister Oli has also offended by saying that 'the person who came wearing slippers is angry that he has become the Prime Minister'. In particular, no one is angry that the son of the people has reached the highest position of the country. Rather proud.