Maoists to continue parliament blockade

The UCPN-M (Maoists) has said they will continue to obstruct parliament, despite increasing pressures on the party to let the budget pass.

The budget for this fiscal year is severely delayed due to the Maoists’ almost continual blockade of parliament since Prachanda quit in May.

The financial year ended in July when the finance minister announced the new proposed budget — but, with Maoists in opposition, parliamentarians have been unable to get it through the house.

The government are allowed to spend one third of the allocated expenditure before passing the budget. These funds are now running out, with government officials saying it threatens the financing of essential services such as hospitals and schools.

At the meeting on Tuesday, the Maoists also said they had decided to strengthen their protest programme.