Lawmaker Singh dissatisfied with Finance Minister’s absence from pre-budget discussions: ‘Let’s not destroy all traditions in the name of new’

Kathmandu. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh said that the discussion on the pre-budget was underway. Swarnim Wagle expressed his dissatisfaction over not being present.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal was present in the meeting on behalf of the government. “This is the first time in my 20 years of parliamentary practice that I have seen pre-budget discussions being held without a finance minister,” he said.

He expressed concern that the relevance of the parliament would be lost if the parliamentary tradition was destroyed in the name of novelty. “Not all traditions are broken in the name of breaking traditions. There is a tradition that the Finance Minister always sits during the discussion on budget allocation priorities. The foreign minister does not make the budget. We are the lawmakers for the fifth time, and if we break all the traditions in this way, the relevance of this parliament will end. ’

“This is the first time in my 20-year tenure that pre-budget discussions are taking place without a finance minister. What kind of tradition is this beginning? We don’t want to destroy everything in the name of the new. If we want to demolish everything in the name of a new one, then let’s demolish Singha Durbar, demolish the post of Prime Minister and Ministers, change everything. But that has to be justified. No matter how busy he is, the finance minister should sit for a day or two of discussions. ’

He also complained to the government that nothing has been included in the budget allocation priorities for Madhes.