In a move to avert a financial crisis in Nepal, Maoists today lifted their blockade of the Parliament to allow the passage of the country's budget, but threatened they would intensify their agitation after its endorsement.
As the Maoists kept their word and suspended their blockade of Parliament for three days, Nepalese lawmakers took up an emergency consideration of the budget, which has been hanging due to the UCPN-Maoists not allowing the House to transact business.
The Nepalese House is conducting business after a five-month long disruption by the Maoists who are demanding restoration of "civilian supremacy" and to rectification of the president Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate former army chief.
Maoists deputy leader in Parliament Narayankaji Shrestha while addressing the House said his party would allowed the House to function only for three days only to pass the budget.
Maoists' Central Committee meeting decided to let the parliament function only for three days starting Monday to pass the annual budget. However, the party said it will continue to disrupt the House from Thursday until their demands werefulfilled.
The discussion on the budget under the different heads belonging to various ministries have started after the Parliament session resumed, Nepali Congress Parliament member Tirtha Ram Dangol said.
The budget for the current fiscal year is likely to be endorsed on Tuesday. Earlier in the morning, a meeting of the ruling 22 political parties held at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar decided to actively support the endorsement of the budget.
The government was facing financial crisis for the past few days as the budget could not be endorsed due to the Maoists' disruption.
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