National Assembly Criticizes Government's Policy and Program

Kathmandu. The government's policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year has been severely criticized in the National Assembly. While discussing the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year in the National Assembly, the MPs commented that the policy and program brought by the government is aimless.

Jhakku Prasad Subedi, leader of the National Assembly parliamentary party of the Nepal Communist Party, commented that the policy and program lacks a new economic policy, a clear development model, and a transformative vision. He questioned the government's working style and said that the talk of good governance is in danger of being limited only to paper. He alleged that the program is slogan-oriented without realistically analyzing the country's situation.

He said, 'The policy and program has neither a new economic policy nor a new development model. There is nothing to focus on here, nor is there a clear direction. The talk of good governance is written here, but looking at the government's working style for a month, implementation seems likely to be limited to paper. There is nothing in the policy and program that is hopeful for the country's transformation. It is not clear what should be made a guiding principle in the policy and program. Neither the constitution is made a guiding principle, nor is SDG graduation mentioned anywhere. In a program that talks about good governance as everything, it talks about a limitless economy, an unbalanced economy. This is just in slogans. The policy and program has not come based on facts. There is no analysis of the country's situation.'

Prem Prasad Dahal, leader of the National Assembly parliamentary party of the CPN-UML, commented that the government's policy and program is meaningless, aimless, and directionless. He said that the policy and program has failed to address serious issues such as the country's economic situation, investment crisis, business slowdown, and contraction in economic growth.

He said, 'This policy and program is meaningless, aimless, and directionless. The policy and program is not clear about the country's economic development, where it is, and where it needs to be taken. The country is in a state of recession. Economic growth has contracted, and the business sector is slow. Foreign exchange reserves are piled up, but loans are not being disbursed. There is ample liquidity in the banks, but investment is not happening. The policy and program has not been able to address these issues.'

Similarly, Nepali Congress MP Kiran Babu Shrestha said that the government has not been able to bring a policy and program that solves the current economic and social crisis. He commented that there is no significant difference between the policy and program presented in 2081 and 2083, and alleged that most of the programs are repeated.

He mentioned that although some reformative and ambitious topics are included, there is no novelty. He said that the same programs are being repeated without reviewing the implementation of past commitments. MP Shrestha mentioned that the issue of constitutional amendment is included in the policy and program, and said that a serious debate is needed on whether to amend or reform the constitution, and it should only be based on national consensus.

He said, 'Looking at the policy and program as a whole, it is felt that it has not been sufficient, clear, credible, and result-oriented according to the country's current economic and social crisis. The policies and programs that came in 2081 and 2083 are very similar. Some new things have been included in the introductory background, they are reformative and ambitious, and looking at them, some changes are visible, otherwise many things have come repeatedly. The repetition of commitments is not new, but how many of the commitments made yesterday have been fulfilled? Why could they not be fulfilled? Without reviewing them, when the same commitments and programs come again, how successful will they be tomorrow? Isn't it just to throw dust in the eyes of the public? These questions have arisen.'

During the discussion, the MPs emphasized that the policy and program should be implementable, accountable, and result-oriented. They also stressed the need to bring a policy and program that removes the current economic crisis and achieves high economic growth, creates employment in Nepal, and reduces poverty.