Private sector to take to streets for budget

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: The private sector has threatened to launch an agitation, if political parties fail to get their act together and introduce the full-fledged budget at the earliest.

Most of the entrepreneurs assembled at an interaction programme organised to put pressure on the government to bring in the full-fledged budget at the earliest have condemned the political parties for delaying the budget for their political ambitions.

During the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) organised conclave, entrepreneurs even threatened to stop paying taxes ‘as they could not pay due to low business’ and other revenues if the government is unable to bring in the budget. ut some of the entrepreneurs also commented that the budget will be out on November 19. Thus, the programme such as this is futile.

“The full fledged budget is the need of the hour if national economy has to be saved. In the absence of a budget, not only economic sector but administrative and security forces are also getting affected,” pointed out Kush Kumar Joshi, president of FNCCI.

“The businesses need to know the fiscal policies of the government so that we can frame our investment policies,” he said, adding that the rumours of budget coming on November 19 as baseless. “Looking at the trend in our country, we can not rely on the news that the budget will be introduced on November 19. Even if it does then whether that will be implemented or not that is still a big question,” he said. Joshi lamented on the lack of enthusiasm on the part of business fraternity to press for the budget. The president of the umbrella organisation of the Nepali private sector also threatened to start protests in association with other professional and private sector associations if the budget is not released soon.

“The political parties cannot hold the budget to bargain for power,” said Rameshwor Upadhyay, president, Professional’s Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD).

He said when the economy is looking for guidelines from budget, a partial budget won’t do. The full-fledged budget needs to be announced as soon as possible.

Lok Manya Golchha, acting president, Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) said that the immediate need of the nation is a full-fledged budget without any further delay.

“If government does not fulfil its responsibilities then how can the citizens and entrepreneurs pay taxes,” he asked.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, FNCCI’s immediate past president also pointed out that the coming days will be more difficult as the system has derailed. It will take a long time to get it back on track.

Mahesh Lal Pradhan, former FNCCI president said politicians should not be trusted as they do not care about the nation.

The surprise resignation of the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in June— only two weeks ago the budget — has left the vacuum in the country as even after four months the country has not got the full-fledged budget.