Budget prioritises economic development: Naya Shakti coordinator Bhattarai

Kathmandu – Naya Shakti Party coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai today said the upcoming budget should prioritise country's economic development. 

Commenting on proposal on principle and priority of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2075\76 presented by Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, he criticised the budget as continuity of past instead of prioritising development basis. 

The former Prime Minister viewed that the budget should incorporate agriculture, tourism, water resources, infrastructure development and education, and prioritise speedy construction of international airport, and run technical education. 

He also stressed the need for bringing free health insurance for farmers, making available of seeds, and managing irrigation. 

Maintaining good relations with both neighbouring India and China is also the need of the hour at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Nepal, he said. 

He also pitched for signing the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) with other 50 countries, while referring to the BIPPA signed with some countries during the premiership of Bhattarai. 
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