PM Shah declares property, draws criticism

Prime Minister and senior leader of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Balendra Shah ‘Balen’ and members of his cabinet have made their property details public, in which significant holdings in bank deposits, gold, land and shares were revealed. The assets were made public as per their commitment to maintain transparency after assuming power.

However, the huge cash and non-cash property made public by the Balen cabinet has invited criticism from different quarters.

As per the disclosures, Prime Minister Shah has Rs 14.6 million deposited in his bank account, with income sources mentioned as earnings from digital platforms including Facebook and YouTube. He owns houses and land in Kathmandu, Dhanusha and Mahottari districts. Besides, he has also declared 190 tola of ancestral gold among other valuables. (One tola is equivalent to 11.664 gram)

Similarly, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has disclosed share investments worth Rs 19 million and bank deposits of around Rs 9 million. He also owns a residential house in Lalitpur worth Rs 20 million and land in multiple locations valued at Rs 107.5 million. Sources of his assets are professional income and ancestral property.

Likewise, Home Minister Sudan Gurung has mentioned Rs 43.1 million in share investments. land in three districts and 89 tolas of gold. The declaration of asset details is a mandatory provision under the Corruption Prevention Act, which requires the prime minister and ministers to submit their property details within 60 days after assuming office.

Property details disclosed by Prime Minister Balen and his Cabinet members on Sunday have drawn some public concern and criticism too.

On Monday, a group of leftist students staged a protest in Kathmandu demanding that the sources of the publicly declared assets be disclosed and that an impartial investigation be conducted to ascertain how the ministers gathered their wealth.