President to present govt’s policy and programme on May 7

Kathmandu, May 1

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will present the government’s policy and programme at Legislature Parliament on May 7 and the House will hold pre-budget discussion on May 4, 5 and 6.

Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar set the House schedule today after holding consultations with chief whips of political parties at her office in Singha Durbar.

Nepali Congress, the main opposition party, however, suggested the Speaker to delay the programme to present policy and programme by a few days and hold discussions first on the national problems being faced by people, including the woes of earthquake affected people, black-marketing, artificial scarcity of goods and the government’s inaction in addressing the agendas of Madhes-based parties, according to NC Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha.

“We have demanded to hold at least three-four days of discussion on the immediate national problems so that they could be resolved. Discussion on budgetary issues can be held after that,” Shrestha said.

The presentation of policy and programme was scheduled for May 7, as President Bhandari will be visiting India for four-five days from May 9.

NC, however, has suggested that the presentation of policy and programme be scheduled after the President returns from India so that discussion on other national problems and pre-budget debate could be held before that.

The House will meet twice on Tuesday, according to Speaker’s Press Adviser Babin Sharma.

The Speaker will read out the President’s letter of summoning of the House session during the first meeting and the finance minister will propose pre-budget discussion in the second meeting.

Lawmakers will study and register amendment on the policy and programme on May 8 and discussion on the programme will be held from May 9-12, said Sharma.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will reply to the queries of lawmakers on May 13 and the document will be put for endorsement as per the schedule.

Following the passage of the policy and programme, the government will focus on national volunteer campaign for reconstruction of earthquake damaged houses.

The government will table fiscal budget on May 28, as stipulated in the new constitution.

During the upcoming session the Parliament will proceed with some new bills and some old ones stranded in House committees, said CPN-UML Chief Whip Bhanubhakta Dhakal.

The House will also discuss the contemporary civic issues, he said. “I hope the opposition will play a constructive role,” he said.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the working committee of the CPN-UMLheld today discussed about the issues to be raised in the House meeting.

Agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front is yet to decide whether to attend the budget session, according to Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna.