Nepali Congress demands resignation of Sudurpaschim Chief minister and ministers over budget controversy

Dhangadhi: The main opposition Nepali Congress has demanded the immediate resignation of Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta and his ministers, calling on them to accept moral responsibility for the controversial budget.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Kamal Bahadur Shah, leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party and former Chief Minister, said the government had no justification for remaining in office after serious flaws in the budget formulation process came to light and the Minister for Economic Affairs had admitted to them.

Shah argued that responsibility for the budget errors should not rest solely with the concerned minister. He said the Chief Minister and other cabinet members must also accept moral accountability. According to Shah, acknowledging serious errors in a matter as important as the budget should be followed by political accountability, not an attempt to cling to office.

“The Minister for Economic Affairs himself has admitted that the budget was flawed. Under these circumstances, the Chief Minister and ministers must accept moral responsibility and resign immediately,” Shah said.

Chakra Malla, the province’s Minister for Economic Affairs, admitted to flaws in the budget formulation process during a Provincial Assembly meeting on Tuesday. Describing the situation, he remarked that they had “set out to create a ‘Dudhpokhari’ (milk pond) but ended up with a ‘Panipokhari’ (water pond).” He indicated that errors had gone unnoticed while suggestions from various quarters were being incorporated during budget preparation.

The Congress has questioned the government’s ethical standing in light of Malla’s statement. The party argues that since the minister responsible for preparing the budget has acknowledged its shortcomings, the Chief Minister and other ministers cannot absolve themselves of responsibility.

Shah said it was neither ethically nor parliamentarily appropriate for the Chief Minister and ministers to remain in office while the Provincial Assembly had decided to form a parliamentary committee to investigate the controversial budget.

He argued that they should step down because questions had been raised about the roles of the very government officials involved in preparing the budget, while the investigation would proceed during their tenure. “Parliamentary norms do not permit those who are the subject of an investigation to remain in office,” Shah said.

Controversy has surrounded the allocation and preparation of the Sudurpaschim Province government’s budget for fiscal year 2083/84 since it was unveiled. The decision to form an investigation committee came after dissatisfaction emerged within the ruling coalition itself and questions were raised by various quarters. However, the budget has already been passed.