KATHMANDU, Oct 29: The government has begun to look for options to implement the budget for the current fiscal even as the main opposition UCPN (Maoist) continues to obstruct parliamentary proceedings.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting with Speaker Subas Nembang at his official residence at Baluwatar in the noon. Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and parliamentary affairs minister Minendra Rijal were also present in the meeting.
According to a source at the prime minister´s office, PM Nepal discussed ways to pass the budget through the parliament -- the formal channel. “The prime minister urged Nembang to use his power to let the budget pass through the House, if consensus could not be reached on the Maoist demand,” he said.
“The speaker can say the budget tabled for approval has been passed, even if the Maoists continue chanting slogans,” he said, adding, “If it doesn´t work, he could even use force to evict the unruly parliamentarians.”
However, he refuted the reports that the government may introduce the budget through an ordinance. “It is one of the options, but the government will resort to it as a last option,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nembang taking to reporters at his office in Singha Durbar said that he urged PM Nepal to take initiatives to create atmosphere conducive for the passage of the budget. “I told him that if the House is not resumed immediately, the country could plunge into deep crisis and that it would have direct or indirect impact on the constitution-making process. I requested him to pass the Appropriation bill that is currently under consideration in the parliament.”
PM Nepal also met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter´s office in Shital Niwas in the afternoon and apprised him of the latest political developments.
The parliament has only passed vote on account bill allowing the government to spend one third of the budget. Parliamentarians and ministers could not receive this month´s salary as the government is yet to pass the budget for the fiscal.
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