The legislature parliament passed the government’s policies and programmes following a day long discussion on Wednesday.

The parliament passed the policies and programmes by majority after the Maoists withdrew their amendment proposals. The parliament, however, rejected amendment proposals put forth by Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), and National People’s Front.

After the House passed the policies and programmes, Economic Survey of the current fiscal year was presented at the parliament by Minister for Agriculture Mahantha Thakur on behalf of Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat. The government is likely to present budget of coming fiscal year 2007/08 at the parliament on Thursday.

Earlier, lawmakers had protested the Prime Minister’s absence in the parliament to answer their queries concerning the policies and programmes of the government.

Prime Minister Koirala was to answer the queries of the MPs in the afternoon, but did not show up citing bad health. Most of the MPs, who commented on the government’s policies, made it a point to criticise the Prime Minister for not attending the crucial question-answer session.

They asked what made the Prime Minister to attend the American embassy’s function around the same time and be absent in the prescheduled question-answer session in the House citing health problems.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Peace and Reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel answered the questions over the government’s programmes and policies. Poudel promised to improve security situation to hold successful election in November, among others.

Though majority of the lawmakers criticised the government policies for the new fiscal year, the policy document was passed by the House.