Lawmakers from the opposition parties came down heavily on the government against its decision to provide Rs5 million to Nepali Congress leader and former deputy prime minister Sujata Koirala for medical treatment.

Speaking during the ‘special hour’ at Legislature-Parliament on Monday, they said the government had been misusing the state funds by distributing hefty amounts in the name of treatment.

The Cabinet on Sunday decided to release the amount to Koirala for cancer treatment. Addressing the meeting, CPN-UML lawmaker Prakash Jwala said it was unfair to release the huge sum to Koirala while hundreds of people are dying for want of basic treatment.

Jwala said the Cabinet had decided to release the cash, bypassing the directive from the parliamentary Finance Committee which had asked the government to formulate criteria before sanctioning medical aid.

“The decision to pay Rs5 million for the treatment of a resourceful person like Koirala cannot be justified on any pretext,” he claimed.

Jwala drew the government’s attention to the need for formulating a proper working procedure for providing financial assistance in such cases. The Finance Committee has suggested providing a maximum of Rs1.5 million after evaluating the recipient’s financial status and his/her contribution to the nation.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal Chief Whip Dilanath Giri demanded clarification from the health minister on the Cabinet decision.

Rastriya Janamorcha lawmaker Meena Pun said it was unjust to grant financial assistance to former ministers under pressure while cases of poor patients jumping to death are being reported.