UML lawmakers walk out of House session mid-way

Published On: June 16, 2022 03:10 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, June 16: CPN-UML lawmakers have walked out of the meeting of the House of Representatives mid-way, expressing their dissatisfaction over the response furnished by Finance Minister Janardan Sharma at the meeting today.

Responding to the queries raised by the main opposition party lawmakers in parliament over the alleged manipulation of tax rates “to serve the interest of some business groups”and allegations over some people entering the Ministry of Finance at midnight before the presentation of the budget for the coming fiscal year, Finance Minister Sharma denounced any involvement of anyone in manipulating the budget and shared that tax rates have been changed in view of the dollar reserves in the country, and the situation of import and production.

Finance Minister Sharma also claimed that there was no treason in revising the tax rates.
"I am fully responsible for the new tax rates. If there is treason, I will take full responsibility for it, because there is no treason here."

Mentioning the increase in tax rates for Electric Vehicles (EV), Sharma said, “Tax has not been raised for EVs under 100KW. The increase in taxes for EVs above 100KW was done to address the growing rate of dollars and imports.”

“Many have said that some people entered the ministry at night to manipulate the tax rates. I have no idea or information regarding this,” he added.

Following his response, CPN-UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai said that the finance minister has been accused of manipulating the tax rates in collusion with unauthorized people during budget formulation. He questioned the Speaker if such an act was not a betrayal to the country.

“We have requested the Speaker to form a parliamentary committee to study and investigate the issue along with the participation of everyone but nothing has been done. We have also demanded the Finance Minister’s resignation but that has gone unheard as well. The clarifications given by the minister are not worth hearing for parliament, the party or the general public,” he said.

Then UML Chief Whip Bhattarai announced that the main opposition lawmakers would boycott the meeting. Then all UML lawmakers present in the House left today’s parliament session mid-way.