Budget prepared in order to make country's economy dynamic: FinMin Mahat
Finance Minister Prakash Saran Mahat has said that the budget for the coming fiscal year 2023/24 was prepared in order to make the country's economy dynamic. At a program organized by Nepali Congress Constituency-7 here today, Finance Minister Mahat claimed that the budget for the coming fiscal year was prepared in order to run the country's economy keeping the nation and people in center. He said, "Some groups are not satisfied with the budget. We prepared it with firm determination without listening to any interest group. The budget helps to make the country dynamic. It has incorporated all areas." The finance minister said, "We have many expectations but means and resources are limited. We all should be involved to make the country's economy dynamic by using available means and resources as much as possible." Also the Spokesperson of the Nepali Congress Mahat said that it was necessary to maintain discipline in the party, adding a culture should be developed to respect each other in the party. He said that there is no need to make alliance with any political parties or forces if the NC becomes stronger, stating that no one is above the party.
Political status and position can't give immunity: Home Minister Shrestha
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha said that the government is committed to ensuring good governance. In a meeting with local residents in Maisthan of Bardibas-4 this morning, the DPM promised to intensify the action against corruption. "No matter what wrongdoing must face action, now you can't get immunity with political status and position", Minister Shrestha said. As leaders of the political parties did not realize their responsibilities and obligations, the people have so far been deprived of good governance, he further said. He also said that Police, administrative authorities and related parties should listen directly to the victims and give a solution but not through any middlemen or intermediaries. For example, the people tried to rise up against the act of usury, they did not get the expected support from the people's representatives. On Saturday, Minister Shrestha had addressed programs held at district headquarters Jaleshwar and in Ramgopalpur.
UML stages protest in Parliament
The CPN-UML staged a protest in Parliament on Friday. The main opposition staged a protest regarding the attack on the party's central member and Koshi Province Assembly's Parliamentary Party deputy leader Ram Rana in Ilam district on Thursday. The parliamentarians representing the party stood up from their respective seats in a gesture of protest as soon as the meeting started. Speaker Devraj Ghimire then allocated time to UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai to air views on the behalf of his party. Bhattarai asserted that instead of following the decision on the naming of Province 1 as Koshi Province that was made with two-thirds majority through democratic process despite some disapproving voices on March 1, 2023, many untoward activities are occurring lately. He said that "ambushes" were being laid and obstructions created in regard to the naming of the province. He also recalled and said that stones were pelted on UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and party's parliamentary deputy leader Subash Chandra Nemwang in Jhapa regarding the same. Furthermore, he also recalled the attack on Koshi Province's Deputy Speaker Srijana Danuwar's vehicle in Udayapur. Bhattarai demanded a response from the Home Minister regarding the death of a protester in Biratnagar in connection to the protest.
EC calls all-party meeting
The Election Commission has summoned an all-party meeting on Friday. The poll body called the political parties to discuss the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. The EC spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Paudel said that the meeting has been called for 11 am today. He said that various five issues including the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices will be discussed in the meeting. Through the annual budget for the fiscal year 2023/24, the government announced to scrap all the 77 district election offices and put them under the jurisdiction of district administration offices. Earlier, the EC had urged Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha to roll back the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. At Wednesday's Parliament meeting, Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa had raised a question over the government’s decision to scrap the district election offices. He had demanded that the government take back its decision immediately.