UML lawmakers have accused Finance Minister Ram Saran Mahat of not incorporating recommendations made at the local level while making ministry-wise budget allocation.
Participating in the preliminary discussion on the expenditure bill in parliament on Monday, UML lawmakers warned of grave consequences if the finance minister does not revise the budget.
"The allocations are not in line with the recommendations made at the local level. The finance minister must revise the budget or it may invite grave consequences," said Rajendra Pandey of the UML. Another UML lawmaker Bikash Lamsal vented ire at the finance minister for the latter's "highhandedness" while finalizing the allocations.
Another UML lawmaker Parbat Gurung alleged that the budget focuses on the forthcoming NC general convention. "The budget seems to focus on NC general convention. If the budget is not revised we will not endorse it," warned Gurung.
Nearly a dozen UML lawmakers had expressed their dissatisfaction over the budget by standing from their chair even before the start of preliminary discussion on budget in parliament on Monday.
Bidur Sapkota of UML accused the finance minister of making ministry-wise budget allocation without maintaining a balance between ruling partners.
The preliminary discussion on the expenditure bill was interrupted after lawmakers from the main opposition party, UCPN (Maoist), boycotted the session. "We do not see any point in participating in this discussion as lawmakers are yet to receive the details of ministry-wise budget allocation," said UCPN (Maoist) Chief Whip Giriraj Mani Pokharel.
Speaker Subas Nembang adjourned the parliament meeting as no opposition lawmakers were present in the House. The parliament secretariat has announced that deliberations on ministry-wise budget allocation would start from Wednesday. The discussion is expected to last for the next two weeks.
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