Madhesi leaders seek amendment to the budget

KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) said on Sunday that the annual budget must be amended before it is endorsed by the legislative parliament.



They were responding to the statement of Finance Minister Barshaman Pun who has been publicly saying that the budget of the current fiscal year would be endorsed without any amendment. [break]



Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R) Co-chairman Rajkishor Yadav said the budget in its current form is not acceptable to them. “There must be an amendment in the budget as per the four-point agreement reached between UCPN (Maoist) and UDMF,” Yadav told Republica.



The text of the four-point agreement signed by Maoists and UMDF leaders at the eleventh hour of the prime ministerial election reads: “The budget of current fiscal year will be amended. In this context, the commitments of the then government and the demands raised by Madhes-based political parties will be kept in mind for improvements in the budget.”



Asked, if the UDMF would back out of its earlier stance on the budget, Yadav said, “We will not step back to let others retain the power and positions.”



Vice-chairman of Sadbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna was for amending the budget to incorporate the UMDF demands. “We will put forward our views regarding amendments to the budget during discussion on the budget in parliament,” Karna added.



Jitendra Dev, Spokesperson of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D), said the budget could be amended.



However, he said after a meeting of the UDMF within a couple of days, it would make its stand clear.



UDMF has demanded that the government allocate Rs 5 million to establish schools after the names of each of the 52 martyrs of the Madhes movement in their respective districts and Rs 20 million for the treatment and rehabilitation of those injured during that movement.



UDMF had demanded allocations for the construction of postal roads and the proposed East-West Railway in the Tarai. It has also asked the government to provide a budget for establishing universities in the Tarai region and for subsidizing the import of chemical fertilizers and other agricultural inputs.

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