KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Vice Chairman and former Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel dismissed speculations circulating in the political arena regarding the stability of the current government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s leadership.

Paudel emphasized that the purported rumors of political turmoil are unfounded and propagated by those with vested interests in destabilizing the government.

He said this during a meeting with Finance Minister Barshman Pun who brought together seven former Finance Ministers, including Paudel, to seek input on the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 081/082.

Paudel urged Minister Pun to craft a concise budget that can be efficiently executed.

Highlighting the continuity of majority support within parliament, Paudel asserted that the government’s stability remains intact despite attempts to sow discord.

He noted a historical pattern of attempts to pressure finance ministers by fostering an atmosphere of instability during budget preparation.

“There is a historical precedent of certain factions resorting to rumor-mongering to exert undue pressure on the finance minister during budget formulation,” remarked Paudel.

“However, there is no substantive basis to entertain the notion of government instability. I urge the Finance Minister to proceed with budgetary deliberations with confidence, ignoring such baseless propaganda,” he added.