Opposition parties slam budget

Kathmandu, June 4

Lawmakers representing opposition parties in the House of Representatives today heavily criticised the budget of the next fiscal year, which was recently presented by the government, stating that it would not guide country in the right direction.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa said the budget had brought in depression. “There was no way to improve the economy and long-term projects of the country, instead it had engaged in smaller issues,” he said. “I feel it is a pity to see the budget from the eyes of the general people.”

Thapa even said it would be not enough to add social security allowance and local development infrastructure coordination programme. He said the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NPC) did not have clear economic plans.

Commenting on the Rs 60 million pork-barrel allocated by Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada in this budget, Thapa said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara have selected the projects respectively and the government distributed Rs 60 million each to lawmakers. “What will we build with Rs 60 million, the wall of a temple?” he questioned. “As a lawmaker, I want to be a part of the project costing Rs 6 billion,” he said.

Lawmaker of Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal Rajendra Mahato said the budget was against federalism. “The major speciality of this budget is that it is against federalism,” he said. He also said the budget was indifferent on the Madhes. “The Madhes has more than 50 per cent of the population, but budgetary allocation for it is under 20 per cent,” he added.