MP Amresh Kumar Singh Objects to Finance Minister's Absence in Pre-Budget Debate

Parliamentarian Expresses Dissatisfaction Over Finance Minister's Absence in Pre-Budget Discussion
Kathmandu. Amresh Kumar Singh, a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle while the discussion on the pre-budget is ongoing.

During the House of Representatives meeting held on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal was present on behalf of the government. MP Singh objected, stating that for the first time in his 20 years of parliamentary practice, he was seeing a pre-budget discussion take place without the Finance Minister.

He expressed concern that destroying parliamentary traditions in the name of novelty would end up destroying the very relevance of the parliament. He said, "Not all traditions are broken in the name of breaking tradition. 

There is a tradition that the Finance Minister always sits down when the budget allocation priorities are being discussed. The Foreign Minister does not make the budget. We are fifth-term MPs; if we keep destroying all traditions like this, the relevance of this parliament will end."

Questioning the parliament, he added, "For the first time in my 20-year tenure, I am seeing a pre-budget discussion happen without the Finance Minister. What kind of tradition is this starting? Not everything should be destroyed in the name of the new. 

If everything is to be destroyed in the name of the new, then let's also destroy Singha Durbar, let's also destroy the posts of Prime Minister and Ministers, let's change everything. However, that must be justified. No matter how busy they are, the Finance Minister must sit through the one or two days of discussion." 

In addition to this, he also complained to the government, stating that nothing was included for Madhesh in the priorities of the budget allocation.