New budget is continuity of the past: CPN Maoist

Kathmandu, May 29: The main opposition party CPN (Maoist Centre) leader, Janardan Sharma, has criticised the new budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 BS, terming it just a continuation of the past ones.

There is no fundamental change except the continuation of the process, Maoist Centre’s Sharma added. Some concerns of the private sector have been addressed as reported, which is positive, the former finance minister added. In terms of resources, the situation of revenue collection and expenses is pathetic, Sharma viewed.

Saying that the mere continuation of the budget was not sufficient to ensure a shift in the country’s economy, Sharma stated that the modality of economic development should be changed to make it production-oriented.

“Now, this is not focused. Country’s development cannot make a jump until we create a situation to run the country with its production, not in revenue collection and remittances inflow,” according to Maoist Centre’s leader Sharma. He also stated that the budget has not well incorporated the issues of people’s livelihood and has not offered any concrete agendas for health care, education and employment generation.

However, the chair of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) Santosh Chalise termed the upcoming fiscal year’s budget as outstanding adding that it has prioritized agriculture, eco-tourism, energy and youth.