Budget is against constitution, federalism: Mahendra Yadav

KATHMANDU, June 3: Leader of the main opposition party Nepali Congress, Mahendra Yadav has said that the government brought the budget going against the spirit of constitution and federalism.

“The budget is against the constitution and federalism because only 19 percent of the budget goes to local levels and 14 percent for provincial levels. 70 percent budget is for central government,” said Yadav at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

However the government has defended its budget allocation for local and provincial levels—which is Rs 225 billion– saying the budget was reduced due to inability to spend under the new federal setup.

“Even the Nepal Communist Party’s chief ministers have expressed dissatisfaction over the budget. It indicates that the budget for the fiscal year 2018/19 is not fair,” he added.

The former minister, Yadav also expressed his dissatisfaction over not incorporating the erstwhile government’s decisions in the budget.

The previous government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba had decided to reduce the eligibility age for the elderly allowance to 65-70, provide Rs 5000 monthly a livelihood allowance for kidney and cancer patients and to those paralyzed by spinal injury. “But the Oli-led government has failed to include these programs in the budget”, Yadav said.

“Oli has failed to do what it promised to the people during the elections,” he added.

“He promised Rs 5000 monthly allowance to senior citizens during the polls. But, he didn’t incorporate it in the budget. Oli cheated the voters, the senior citizens, youth and people,” he fumed.

“The government talks about big promises and about social transformation through economic revolution, but in reality, the budget has forgotten the society,” he added.