Lawmakers from the main opposition CPN-UML on Tuesday obstructed the Parliament proceeding demanding a parliamentary committee to probe into the involvement of two unuathorised persons in the budget making at the behest of Finance Minister Janardan Sharma.

UML lawmakers also demanded clarification from Sharma.

The Annapurna Post, a vernacular daily published from Kathmandu, in its Monday’s edition made a damning allegation that Sharma instructed four senior Finance Ministry officials to follow the suggestions of two individuals—a retired senior non-gazetted officer and a chartered accountant—on the night of May 28 and make some last moment changes in taxation with a view to benefiting some business groups and harming others.

The issue of minister Sharma allegedly involving outside elements to change tax rates on the eve of the budget presentation for the next fiscal year 2022-23 has drawn widespread criticism.

The Finance Ministry late on Monday had rebutted charges that Sharma had “involved” two outsiders to change some taxes just before he presented the budget in Parliament on May 29.

UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai said that parliamentary proceedings cannot move ahead unless a parliamentary committee is formed to probe the allegations against Minister Sharma.

Speaker Agni Sapkota urged the lawmakers to take their seats, saying that he had taken note of the issue raised by the main opposition and that the House should be allowed to function.

However, Bhattarai said that his party will let the House function only after an investigation is carried out into charges against the minister.