Surkhet, July 15 – The Karnali state government is going to bring the budget from the ordinance today. The government has chosen the path of ordinance to pass the budget after the main opposition party CPN-UML repeatedly obstructed the parliament. The annual (budget) session of the Provincial Assembly has come to an end. State Chief Govinda Prasad Kaluni has ended the budget session with effect from 12 noon on Wednesday.
UML did not allow the 18th meeting of the eighth session of the state assembly, which was held at 3 pm on Wednesday, to enter the agenda. The Speaker then adjourned the meeting for half an hour. After that, the meeting could not go smoothly. In the meantime, the government had recommended to the state chief to end the convention as no consensus could be reached despite an all-party meeting.
The government has stated that it is preparing to bring the budget from the ordinance today as no consensus has been reached. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Gopal Sharma had presented a budget of Rs 36.54 billion for the coming fiscal year 2078/79 in the state assembly. The budget could not be discussed as the UML has been obstructing the state assembly meetings with its two main demands.
UML had demanded that the working system should be in the parliament as per the ruling of the Speaker Raj Bahadur Shahi in the state assembly on June 13 and that the ministers in the UML government should resign. The UML had stated that it would block the parliament until Ammar Bahadur Thapa, Kurmaraj Shahi and Nanda Singh Budha of the Khanal-Nepal faction, who became floor cross ministers, resigned. UML had said that the leader of the same party should not be in power and in opposition. However, the government has opted for the ordinance as the budget cannot be passed by the parliament as it has to be passed by July 20.
UML MP says it is unfortunate to go for the ordinance in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner
UML lawmakers, however, said that it was unfortunate to go through the budget ordinance in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner after the budget session ended on Wednesday night.
Former Minister and UML MP Rawal has said that it is unfortunate that the Karnali state government has abruptly closed down the state assembly, the representative body of the sovereign people, and passed the ordinance in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner. He said, “Article 210, sub-article 1 and 2 of the constitution of Nepal and sub-rule 1 of rule 138 of the Karnali Provincial Assembly Rules have a constitutional provision to bring a pesky expenditure bill with a maximum of one third of the budget estimate of the fiscal year while the appropriation bill is under consideration. However, Sakar adopted an undemocratic approach.
UML MP Kaushilawati Khatri has remarked that the state government is flouting the constitution and law. He said sarcastically, “It is unfortunate that the Karnali state government has brought the budget through an ordinance without discussing the appropriation bill under consideration in the House, disregarding the constitution, laws and regulations.”
Although the state government is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the constitution and laws, it is mocking the constitution and flouting the law.
12 consecutive meetings blocked
UML had blocked 11 consecutive meetings after June 20. After the presentation of the budget for the next fiscal year in the state assembly on June 20, the meeting of the state assembly scheduled for June 19, 20 and 20 was postponed by posting the notice.
The House had convened on July 25. However, it was not included in the agenda. In the meantime, the meeting held on July 29, 30, 31, 30 and 28 was also blocked. Wednesday’s meeting was also adjourned for half an hour after it was not allowed to enter the agenda. However, the adjourned meeting was not smooth and the budget session was adjourned.
Published Date : 15 Jul 2021
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