The caretaker government had unveiled one-third budget of Rs 161.24 billion through ordinance, in the absence of parliament, on Sunday, for the fiscal year 2012/13. [break]
Speaking at an interaction in Reporters’ Club Nepal in capital this afternoon, Minister Pun said despite the prevailing need of a full budget, the government agreed to bring one-third of it with view to forging political consensus.
Likewise, he said the government conceded to bring one-third budget with intent of averting possible tussles between the government, the president and the opposition parties.
He also expressed his hope that there will be a full fledged budget soon once the parties agree on whether to go for new Constituent Assembly (CA) elections or reinstate the dissolved CA.
The minister also said there is no room now left for protest by opposition parties as the new fiscal budget was introduced after consulting all political parties represented in the dissolved CA.
The size of budget appears to be relatively bigger this time, Pun said, reacting to protest by leaders of opposition parties.
However, the apparently increased size is due to allocations for new CA polls, establishment of a directorate for army integration and expenditure to be made on voluntary retirement of ex-Maoist combatants, Pun maintained.
What is missing in budget for agriculture?