Kathmandu, April 22 -- Just before Dashain in 2018, the Oli government brought a policy limiting sugar imports, triggering a massive rise in sugar prices in the market. The sugar policy was brought to 'protect' the domestic farmers and industries. But it turned out that the domestic industry was intent on fleecing Nepali consumers, raising the prices from Rs63 per kilo to Rs105. Now, PM Oli is claiming he was duped by sugar manufacturers and traders in Nepal.

The private sector has gained notoriety in recent days by becoming part of high profile corruption cases, whether it is their role in tax scams, illicit financial flows, cost escalation of public infrastructure projects, opaque dealings in airplane procurements or encroachment of pu...