By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jun 1: Post Budget discussion began on Sunday in both the Houses of the Federal Parliament. The document of annual estimation of income and expenditure for the Fiscal year 2020/21 got both appreciation and criticism.
Leaders and lawmakers of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) appreciated the government for drafting a balanced budget while the lawmakers from the opposition blamed it for failing to address the contemporary needs.
However, leaders of both opposition and the ruling parties were happy to see clear priority to saving lives of the people. “Commitment of providing health safety and free COVID-19 treatment is the better part of the budget, however several lapses are there,” lawmakers of the opposition party said.
NCP leader Surendra Pandey said that the budget was well organised but a satisfying delivery was needed. “Target of getting huge amount of loans or foreign assistance is ambitious because we have a trend of weak delivery so it requires strict regulation,” he added.
Former Finance Minister and general secretary of ruling NCP Bishnu Paudel said that the budget was balanced and appropriate for the time of health crisis.
“It aims at battling against the health crisis in the country and targets to provide relief packages to the private sector for the economic stability,” he said.
However, leaders and lawmakers of the opposition parties were not happy with the document. NC leader Dr. Minendra Rijal said that the budget went out of track. He said that the budget that had come in a traditional way would not implement federalism properly.
Lawmaker Binod Chaudhary was dissatisfied with the absence of stimulus packages. “We were expecting Rs. 250 billion package for the economic stability, but it’s not in the budget,” he said.
Similarly, former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said that the budget estimation for the year had come out in a traditional pattern. “It cannot address the current crisis,” he said.