KATHMANDU: Calls for a parliamentary investigation committee against Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle have intensified in the House of Representatives amid allegations of irregular changes in the Financial Bill presented with the national budget for fiscal year 2026/27.
Opposition lawmakers on Monday demanded an inquiry into what they described as repeated and unauthorized alterations to the bill after its submission to Parliament, including changes in tax rates and structural revisions to the draft legislation.
The issue was strongly raised during the House session, where lawmakers questioned whether parliamentary procedures had been properly followed in the handling of the financial legislation.
Nepali Communist Party leader and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun said the developments were serious enough to warrant the formation of a parliamentary probe committee.
He argued that repeated amendments to a bill already presented in Parliament raise concerns about transparency and fiscal discipline, and insisted that the finance minister must clarify the matter before the House.
Pun further suggested that, if necessary, a formal investigation committee should be formed based on parliamentary precedent in similar past controversies.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party parliamentary leader Gyanendra Shahi also backed the demand for a probe, alleging arbitrary manipulation of tax provisions and describing the issue as a serious governance concern.
He insisted that only a parliamentary committee, rather than an executive-led inquiry, would ensure credible investigation and accountability.
The demand has triggered political debate inside Parliament, with opposition parties pressing for accountability while the government side has yet to formally respond to the allegations.
With pressure mounting from multiple parties, discussions over whether to form a parliamentary investigation committee into the finance minister are expected to intensify in the coming days.
Comment