‘Black Friday’ in Nepal over budget

Nepal’s parliamentary history witnessed its darkest chapter late on Friday night when lawmakers attacked each other over presentation of the country’s budget.

Updated on: Nov 20, 2010, 23:30:37 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Nepal’s parliamentary history witnessed its darkest chapter late on Friday night when lawmakers attacked each other over presentation of the country’s budget.

Opposition Maoist lawmakers attacked finance minister Surendra Pandey while he was about to table the much delayed budget and snatched the briefcase containing the document.

Pandey and energy minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who tried to intervene, sustained minor injuries. The budget, which has already got delayed by four months couldn’t be tabled.

The unruly scenes lasting several minutes forced Speaker Subhash Nemwang to adjourn proceedings till December 2 when the 17th round of voting to elect a new prime minister will take place.

Faced with an impending economic crisis due to delay in presentation of the budget, the government will get it passed through an ordinance on Saturday.

Reactions to the incident
“The incident is an unfortunate and regrettable happening in our parliamentary history. The guilty will be punished as per parliamentary regulations.” Subhash Nemwang, Speaker. “The Maoists behavior was deplorable. It is an attack on democracy.” Ram Chandra Poudel, Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader
“Friday’s incident was unfortunate, but normal.” Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman, United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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