Parliament to pass budget

KATHMANDU: The budget for the fiscal year 2009/10 which is yet to be passed from the parliament following the Maoist lawmakers’ obstruction is being endorsed on Tuesday. In a press conference organised by the main opposition party on Saturday, it made the announcement that it had decided to let the House function for three days to pave the way for the budget endorsement. The parliament session which is underway since 11 am will be endorsing the budget through the election once the 16 ministers answer the queries raised by the CA lawmakers on allocation of the budget to their ministries.
Meanwhile, ruling allies have issued a whip on compulsory attendance of its lawmakers in today’s parliament session and active participation in the budget endorsement procedure. Unconfirmed reports said the lawmakers of ruling parties who could not make their way to the capital are being airlifted by helicopters. However, Maoists who have decided to boycott the budget session walked out from Monday’s House proceedings just after deputy parliamentary party leader of the party Narayan Kaji Shrestha’s address, leaving three of its lawmakers for formality’s sake as the House cannot function without the presence of opposition leaders.