Wagle Admits Changes in Finance Bill, Rejects Parliamentary Probe

Opposition parties have accused Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle of changing tax rates mentioned in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year after it was presented in Parliament on Jestha 15. They have demanded an investigation into the Finance Minister, claiming that the budget already tabled in Parliament was altered at his discretion. Amid opposition protests, Wagle got an opportunity to clarify the matter before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, where he admitted that some amendments had been made to the Finance Bill. Wagle said improvements were made in five to six points, but clarified that the changes were not made with any bad intention. According to him, the amendments were made to correct technical errors and to serve public interest.

Wagle said all amendments had been formally communicated to the Parliament Secretariat through a letter on Jestha 17. He expressed dissatisfaction that improvements made in national and public interest without any malicious intent were being made controversial. He also argued that the government has the authority to change tax rates and said the Finance Minister is the final decision-maker in the tax-rate determination process. However, he said the budget and tax rates were not prepared secretly by him alone, but after discussions with a large group of experts and stakeholders. Wagle also rejected the demand for a parliamentary investigation, saying random calls for such a probe were not justified. Opposition parties, however, have described the discretionary amendment of the Finance Bill as a financial crime. The issue has put Wagle under scrutiny at a time when Parliament is already disturbed by controversy over the Prime Minister’s remarks.