Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has voiced strong criticism regarding the Parliament’s decision to provide Members of Parliament with personal laptops and high-end mobile phones at the expense of taxpayers, especially in light of the nation’s dire financial situation.
In a recent statement, Chaudhry expressed his astonishment that Parliament is moving forward with the Emoluments Committee’s recommendation for each MP to receive these devices. He questioned the government’s priorities, highlighting more pressing issues that require funding.
“Just a week ago, we heard from the FTU general secretary regarding the government’s delay in releasing 50% of the Free Education Grant for Term 2,” he noted.
Chaudhry pointed out that MPs already have access to computers and various resources at their Parliamentary offices. He further emphasized that earlier this year, lawmakers had awarded themselves significant pay raises and allowances despite public opposition, suggesting they should be capable of purchasing their own laptops and phones.
He also raised a concern about the annual allocation of $325,000 that each political party receives from the national budget, questioning why this funding cannot be allocated for personal computing devices for party MPs.
Additionally, Chaudhry reminded that MPs benefit from duty-free vehicle imports and are among the wealthiest officials in the country. He concluded that this latest expense from public funds reflects a troubling trend of self-serving actions at the cost of the struggling taxpayer.