SURKHET: CA members and leaders of various political parties in Surkhet expressed dissatisfaction over the budget of 2009-10 as it had not been clear on the issue of establishing a university in the mid-western region. They expressed their dissatisfaction as the government had failed to mention the specific place where they would establish the university though it had decided to establish one in the region.

They also demanded that the university be established in Surkhet as per the decision taken by the previous government. Dhruba Kumar Shahi, a leader of the CPN-UML, said, “The present government has failed to mention the place where it would establish the university though the former government had decided to establish the regional university in Surkhet.”

Meanwhile, Surkhet in-charge of UCPN-Maoist Krishna Prasad Dhamala said, “The government is trying to revert the decision of the previous government by not mentioning the place where it would establish the university.” Stating that the former government had agreed to establish a university in Surkhet, he warned that they would protest in the parliament if the present government tried to revert the decision of the previous government. NC district chairman Tapta Bahadur Bista, said, “The finance minister should correct his speech in this regard and follow the decision of the previous government.”

Issuing a joint press release, the local leaders have demanded to allocate a budget to establish the regional university in Surkhet. They also warned of severe protests if the government failed to address their demands.