Party MPs say the budget is ‘ministers-centric’

Kathmandu, June 16

Lawmakers of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) have vented their ire at the party leadership for not allocating enough budget for their constituencies.

During the NCP (NCP)’s parliamentary party meeting held at the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar today, the lawmakers told the party leadership that the ministers had allocated adequate budget for their wards, but not for other local levels.

Around two dozen lawmakers had raised the issue at the meeting today. The party had called the meeting after some ruling party lawmakers criticised the budget in the Parliament and other public platforms.

Voices of dissatisfaction grew in the meeting which was called by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to pacify disgruntled lawmakers, a source said.

According to lawmaker Rameswhar Ray Yadav, lawmakers told the PM that there was no uniformity in the party manifesto, the government’s policies and programmes and the budget. Around 60 lawmakers had registered their names to raise the issue, but could not speak due to time constraints.

NCP (NCP) leader Bhim Rawal vehemently opposed the budget, saying it was  ministers-centric rather than being people-centric. “The government did not allocate budget for the 750MW West Seti Hydropower Project, but earmarked budget for ministers’ wards,” a lawmaker quoted Rawal as saying.

Rawal said had the party called such meetings earlier, lawmakers would not have raised the issue in the Parliament and other public platforms.

Lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar said the budget lacked socialist programmes. He also said the government should have hiked senior citizen social security allowance by at least Rs 500.

The PM tried to pacify the lawmakers, saying he would try his best to address their concerns. “If you have any dissatisfaction with the budget, then you can express that in party committees. You should not raise the issue in the Parliament because that gives ammunition to the opposition party to attack the government,” a lawmaker quoted the PM as saying. “The budget may have shortcomings which the government can rectify.”

Another NCP (NCP) lawmaker Dinanath Sharma said the PM told the lawmakers that he would try his best to address their concern, but they should not violate the party discipline.

The lawmakers also said that the government unnecessarily incorporated local infrastructure development programmes in the budget. They said the finance ministry could have addressed the issue by drafting a procedure related to the programme. They also said the government should not have introduced a mechanism to carry out development projects in electoral constituencies.

NCP (NCP) Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the budget was not 100 per cent perfect. “I respect your aspirations and demand for judicious development of all parts of the country. We will try our best to address your concerns,” lawmaker Shyam Kumar Shrestha quoted Dahal as telling the lawmakers.

According to Sharma, PM Oli will brief the Parliament on his upcoming China visit tomorrow.