Nepal ruling allies agree to use marshall to pass budget

Two largest parties in Nepal's ruling coalition have decided to use any means to pass the budget even if it means having to use marshall at the parliament. The ruling alliance braced on passing the budget by force if need be as the lack of budget passage has put the government in a dire financial situation. It has not been able to pay its staff due to this.

The maoists have prevented the legislature parliament from proceeding to normal business by chanting slogans and picketing the rostrum every time a House meeting is called.

The Maoists are demanding that an incident-after which the Maoists stepped down from the government -back in May when President Ram Baran Yadav revoked the erstwhile government's decision to sack the army chief be discussed in the parliament.

The Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government has refused let the President's move be discussed in the parliament, saying the move was the very foundation on which the present government was formed.

Nepal's financial year begins in mid-July. And according to a credit bill passed by the parliament, the government can sanction one-third of the budget earmarked for each head or body.

Four months down the line most of the government bodies including the very essential security agencies, hospitals, prison administration, among others have used up a third of thier allocated amount.

Finance minister has been saying time and again, the government will not be able to pay its employees from next month if the budget is not passed.

The Maoists who recently made the nation by assembling half-million cadres around the country's administrative hub of Singha Durbar bringing the nations administrative centre to a halt have given a respite till November 20, after which they have said, they will launch an even intensive agitation if their demand is not fulfilled.

Leaders of the ruling parties who gathered at Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's official residence in Baluwatar, for a fist last night agreed to allow two more days for the Maoists to come to consenus and pass the budget amid slogans and picketing after that.

However, CA chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang, who has been mostly acclaimed for playing a neutral role in the parliament, although he represents the ruling CPN (UML), is not likely to cooperate with the government in its plan to run the House using marshalls.

My role will be to strive to resume the House by forging a consensus among all parties. I have never considered and will never consider an alternative to it, Nemwang told media after a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, yesterday.