PM in trouble over budget leak

Leakage of the country's annual budget is the latest headache for Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal who's battling controversies since coming to power in February.

Updated on: Jul 17, 2011, 01:30:06 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Leakage of the country's annual budget is the latest headache for Nepal Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal who's battling controversies since coming to power in February.

Deputy PM and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari presented a NRs 385 billion (Rs 240 billion) budget on Friday night but issues other than its contents is the reason for the present controversy.

Budget details getting leaked in local media before its actual presentation led Parliament to appoint a seven-member committee to probe the matter and submit a report before July 23.

Adhikari's budget speech was delayed by a day due to pressure from Madhesi parties from the Terai belt over inclusion of their demands. But confusion over its presentation led to the leak.

Besides newspapers and television channels airing its contents hours in advance, the finance ministry website also posted the entire budget even as Adhikari was going through his speech.

Acrimonious scenes were witnessed inside the parliament during the budget speech as opposition benches questioned its presentation since details were already known by the public.

"Leakage of budget is a serious financial crime. The PM has lost moral ground to remain in office," said senior Nepali Congress leader and former finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat.

In a special front page editorial on Saturday, The Himalayan Times held Adhikari "primarily accountable" for the leak and suggested that he should step down immediately.

"It's a serious violation of fiscal discipline and our party demands a thorough probe," said Maoist Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai who's party is the dominant partner in the ruling coalition.

Already facing threat to his position over slow progress in completing the peace process and drafting of the new constitution, the budget leak has given another arsenal to Khanal's detractors to target him.

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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