KATHMANDU, July 12: The annual policies and programs of the government presented by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Thursday were endorsed by majority votes in the parliament on Sunday. [break]
Altogether 251 Constituent Assembly (CA) members from Unified CPN (Maoist) and Yadav-faction of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) voted against the policies and programs while 305 parliamentarians voted for it.
Earlier replying to the questions raised by lawmakers in the parliament, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had urged all the lawmakers to unanimously endorse the government´s policies and programs.
Nepal committed to accommodating the CA members´ suggestions while presenting the budget and would take the main spirit of their suggestions into considerations while implementing the policies and programs.
He said the government would give due consideration to the concerns raised by Nepali Congress (NC). Nepali NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel suggested that the government include some popular programs that were introduced by NC government in the past.
Earlier, Maoist lawmakers walked out of the parliament saying that there is no meaning in discussing the policies and programs presented by an "unconstitutional" government.
Maoists walked after senior Maoist leader, Dr Baburam Bhattarai, concluded his about 45-minute-long address.
"There is no meaning of point-wise discussion as we reject the policies and programs in its entirety," Bhattarai said.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal urged the lawmakers to unanimously endorse the policies and programs.
The discussion, a precursor to presenting the annual budget that is due on Monday, could not take place on Saturday due to objection by Yadav-faction of MPRF over a dispute with Gachchhadar-led MPRF.
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