Forest and Soil Conservation Minister Matrika Yadav has vowed to take action against red sandalwood smugglers.

Yadav said that he is collecting evidence against the smugglers. Yadav said he has already prepared a list of smugglers. When asked by Nepal Samacharpatra who are included in his list, Yadav said, “I am collecting evidence. If I disclose their names now, then they will (hatch conspiracy). So it is not proper to disclose their names at this point.”

Speaking at a programme on Management of Protected Areas, Sunday, Yadav said that Forest Ministry will need maximum cooperation from Finance and Home Ministries to control the smuggling.

Meanwhile, Yadav – who last week had entered into a verbal altercation with the Prime Minister at the cabinet meeting – has demanded that a new Nepal be built where everyone can speak out. He said the trend where subordinates cannot speak with their officials has hurt the building of new Nepal. “There is a situation where wardens cannot speak out at director general; where DG cannot speak out at minister; and where minister cannot speak out at Prime Minister,” he said referring to his quarrel with the PM.

The PM was irked at him after he publicly accused army of engaging in killing wild animals. The PM had asked him not to interfere in the jurisdiction of defense ministry – which is held by the PM himself.

At the same programme, Minister Yadav said that Forestry was one of the most corrupt sectors.