Big 3 agree on budget issue, restructuring commission

KATHMANDU, July 2: UCPN (Maoist) leaders, who were against expediting the formation of a high-level State Restructuring Commission (SRC) until the resignation of the present government, have now agreed to form the commission.



The Maoist green light for the SRC came at a meeting of leaders of the three major parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML-- convened by CA Chairman Subas Nembang at Singha Durbar, Friday. [break]



Maoist leaders agreed to decide the number of members to be appointed to the commission, fix its tenure and prepare the terms of reference at the meeting of leaders of the three parties on Sunday.



The three parties also agreed to prepare a calendar of operations for the CA as per the time span to be allowed to the commission. Though the CA Committee on State Restructuring has submitted its preliminary report to the CA, the parties have agreed to carry out the task of state restructuring only after incorporating the Commission’s report.



The leaders also reached an understanding to present a finance bill under the special provision relating to revenues and expenditures.



The Special Provision (96A) was inserted by the Fifth Amendment to the Interim Constitution in 2006 when the then NC-headed government continued in office even after the Maoist party won the most seats in the CA election.



Following the agreement among the three parties, Finance Minister Surendra Pandey and Speaker Nembang held a meeting and reached an understanding to table the finance bill under Article 96(A) on July 9.



“If there arises a special circumstance where an estimate of revenues and expenditures for the forthcoming financial year cannot be laid before the Legislature-Parliament by the end of the current financial year, revenues may be collected in accordance with the Financial Act of the current year,” states the special provision.



In such a situation the finance minister may, setting out the reasons, lay before parliament a bill authorizing the incurring of expenditures in the forthcoming financial year, not exceeding one-third of the total expenditure of the current financial year.



Meanwhile, 11 small parties on Friday said the UCPN-M as the largest party should lead a consensus government.



“We suggested the Maoists to lead a consensus government in its capacity as the largest party to conclude the constitution writing and peace process,” said Bhumi Raj Niraula, general secretary Chure-Bhawar Ekta Party, after a meeting hosted by the Maoists.

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