“We are having consultations with senior government officials as well as with other experts over the need for a supplementary budget and major economic policies for the new budget,” Adhikari said at the meeting of parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC) on Sunday.[break]
Though there is a necessity of a supplementary budget, we are putting in efforts to explore alternatives to supplementary budget to deal with the new economic challenges that have emerged lately, Adhikari added.
The PAC had summoned Adhikari, Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire and Revenue Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota to clarify issues surrounding supplementary budget, fake VAT receipt racketeers and the resignation of Finance Secretary Rameshwore Khanal.
Adhikari admitted that he had differences with secretary Khanal, who opposed the idea of distributive supplementary budget. However, he urged all not to politicize the issue.
“It is true that I held discussions with some officials and experts on supplementary budget despite having some differences with Khanal,” Adhikari said, adding, “However, I didn´t put any pressure on him.”
Commenting on allegations that the MoF has sought clandestine ways to introduce budget, Adhikari claimed that he had consulted with Khanal, Revenue Secretary Baskota and other concerned senior officials on supplementary budget. “It is true that I held consultations with other experts and coalition partners. But it doesn´t mean that I ignored Secretary Khanal,” he argued.
Speaking at the meeting, lawmakers questioned the government´s motive behind bringing supplementary budget at a time when budget allocated for most of the development projects remains unspent.
Finance Secretary Khanal had resigned a few days ago due to differences with Adhikari, who is hell bent on releasing supplementary budget under pressure from coalition partner UCPN (Maoist).
Adhikari insisted the government would not bring supplementary budget by bypassing the opposition parties. “We haven´t decided yet about releasing supplementary budget. Rest assured, we will not release supplementary budget bypassing anyone,” he added.
PAC wants info on fake VAT receipt scam
Amid widespread allegations that the government is preparing to allow fake VAT receipt racketeers to walk away scot-free, PAC has directed the Finance Ministry to submit a progress report over the ongoing investigation on fake VAT racketeers within four days.
The directive was issued after MOF officials argued that they were unable to disclose the names of 22 firms involved in evading tax by producing fake VAT receipts as per the law.
Earlier, members of the PAC asked the MOF officials to produce the list of 22 firms but Rajan Khanal, chief of Inland Revenue Department (RID), apprised the committee that clause 74 and 84 of Income Tax Act bars the government from disclosing the names of evaders before filing cases in the court.
Minister Adhikari clarified that the government would leave no stone unturned in punishing those involved in fake VAT bill scam.
What the Interim Constitution 2007 says?
As per the constitution, the Minister for Finance shall present before the Legislature-Parliament a supplementary estimate if it is found that the sum authorized to be spent for a particular service by the fiscal budget is insufficient, or that a need has arisen for expenditures upon some new service not provided for by the budget for that year. Similarly, the government can bring a supplementary budget if the expenditures made during that financial year are in excess of the amount authorized by the budget or the sums included in the supplementary estimates shall be specified under the heads in a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
Related story
SC requests supplementary report on Bechan Jha's petition
_20191222200001.jpg)
