Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chief Whip Khushbu Oli Questions Government's Work Style and Budget Allocation Priorities

Kathmandu. Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chief Whip Khushbu Oli has questioned the government's work style and the priorities in budget allocation. Speaking in the discussion on the budget of various ministries under the Appropriation Bill, 2083, in the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday, she stated that sufficient time was not given for the study of important budget documents. Commenting that the budget discussions in parliament are merely ceremonial, she mentioned that it is impractical to be asked to prepare proposals for expenditure cuts after studying the development program booklets of 18 ministries within two days. Speaking in the context of the Infrastructure Development Ministry, MP Oli pointed out that while it is positive to continue strategic projects like Madan Bhandari, Pushpalal Mid-Hill, Hulaaki Highway, and tunnel routes, the implementation aspect is weak. Her demand was that the practice of allocating budget for decades but not completing even 50 percent of the work should end. She said, 'We are not supercomputers; serious analysis is not possible in such a short time. May this be improved in the future so that the discussions in the house become truly effective. The government should adopt a policy of completing old strategic projects rather than a race to announce and lay the foundation stones for new projects.' She also drew the government's attention to the lack of a clear blueprint for road maintenance, climate-friendly infrastructure, and accident reduction. Discussing the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Oli objected to only 0.18 percent of the total budget being allocated. She argued that although the government talks big about AI, robotics, and space technology, it has allocated zero budget for innovation at the local level and has no concrete plan to retain scientists in the country. She demanded the immediate introduction of a national AI policy and data security policy. Regarding the energy sector, she stated that while the expansion of transmission lines and the export strategy towards India appear positive, there is no concrete plan to increase domestic consumption. She urged the government to prepare an alternative energy security strategy, considering the risks that may arise if the external market policy changes.