UML MP Ain Bahadur Mahar Criticizes Government Budget, Labels It Irresponsible

Kathmandu. CPN-UML Whip and Member of Parliament Ain Bahadur Mahar has expressed dissatisfaction with the budget presented by the government, stating that it failed to meet public expectations. Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, he said that while a budget capable of bringing radical changes to the country's economic and social sectors was expected from the current government, that did not happen.

He mentioned that he held high expectations for the Finance Minister, but the presented budget left them disappointed. He said, "I believed that this extremely strong government would bring an exceptionally good budget and it would become a milestone for radical transformation, but ironically, that could not happen. Seeing the scholarly Finance Minister on TV and listening to his past statements made me feel he would do something. But when he presented the budget in the House, its essence was not satisfactory. Rather than the content included in the budget, the Finance Minister's attitude made us serious. The demeanor and style expected of a scholar were not seen in him."

MP Mahar accused the Finance Minister of presenting himself in a domineering and disrespectful manner toward the opposition, stating that such behavior raised questions about the minister's scholarship. According to him, the budget failed to adequately address the needs of remote areas, poor and marginalized communities, women, children, Dalits, and backward classes, labeling the budget as irresponsible.

He said, "He presented himself in a way that looked down upon and insulted the opposition. That has raised serious questions about his scholarship. The budget did not see the remote areas. It did not see the poor and marginalized communities, women, children, and Dalits. To put it one way, you brought a budget that is irresponsible, far-fetched, and merely stuffed. That has made us sad. You have severely insulted the public mandate. I want to draw the serious attention of the Finance Minister to this." He also commented that the budget was discriminatory.