Budget more like an election manifesto, say former lawmakers

Lawmakers of the smaller parties of the now-dissolved House of Representatives (HoR) have said that the budget announced by the government is basically an election-oriented policy. They have mentioned that the government introducing such a populist budget goes against the spirit of republicanism and democracy.

The budget for next fiscal year 2078/79 was announced by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel on Saturday.

The lawmakers have said that a minority government does not have the right to announce a full budget that is populist and basically targets the mid-term elections through an ordinance.

Rastriya Janamorcha’s Durga Poudel, who was a lawmaker in the now-dissolved HoR, said that the government bringing a budget through an ordinance is against the principles and practices of a democratic republic nation. She added that this could set a dangerous precedent in the future.

Poudel stated that the budget introduced by the government is more like a party-based document and is more focused on the upcoming elections. She added that a minority and caretaker government did not have the authority to announce a full budget and that her party opposes the budget. The budget has just targeted the mid-term elections and it is not sure whether it will be properly implemented.

She shared that she hoped the budget that has been allocated for the control, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19 and to bring vaccines against the virus is effectively and efficiently utilised.

Meanwhile, Chhakka Bahadur Lama, an independent lawmaker of the now-dissolved House, said that in a democratic set-up the government which is in minority and just a caretaker one should have consulted all the parties before bringing the budget for next fiscal year. Introducing a budget through an ordinance is totally against democratic principles, he added.

Lama further stated that the budget has not tried to address the real needs of the economy and is like an election manifesto.

Rambabu Kumar Yadav of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal, who is also a lawmaker of the now-dissolved HoR, said that besides the increase in the allowance for senior citizens other aspects of the budget will most likely not be implemented. He added that the budget will push the country and the citizens further towards debt as the government will not be able to collect revenue during such a health and economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.