KATHMANDU: Today’s meeting of the House of Representatives was adjourned for 15 minutes after lawmakers drew the Speaker’s attention demanding the presence of Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle during discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill.
CPN-UML lawmaker Rajendra Kumar Rai said the Finance Minister’s presence was mandatory while discussing the principles and priorities of the budget.
After Rai insisted that the Finance Minister must be present, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal informed the House that a message had already been sent to the minister. He urged Rai to continue presenting his views until the minister arrived.
However, Rai refused to proceed with his remarks, prompting Speaker Aryal to adjourn the meeting for 15 minutes.
The House has been holding discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2026/27, excluding tax proposals.
Earlier during the discussion, lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh complained that it was inappropriate to hold deliberations on the Appropriation Bill in the absence of the Finance Minister.
He also said problems were increasing in the Tarai-Madhes region due to declining groundwater levels caused by inadequate conservation of the Chure area.
Similarly, lawmaker Rekha Kumari Yadav also drew the Speaker’s attention to the absence of the Finance Minister. She stressed the need to prioritize high-return projects and called for clarity regarding foreign aid and loans, including which sectors should receive external assistance.
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