The legislature parliament has passed the government's policies and programmes presented by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Friday by giving a vote of thanks to the President, Sunday.

The legislature parliament voted 305 against 251, in favour of the policies and programmes, Sunday evening. 556 lawmakers were present during the voting.

Maoist lawmakers, who had boycotted the discussion on the policies and programmes, also joined the House Sunday evening and voted against the policies and programmes.

Earlier, lawmakers had discussed the policies and programmes and eight amendments proposals filed by various parties.

Answering the queries raised by lawmakers during the discussion, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal urged parties to understand the limitations of a coalition government, withdraw their amendments and vote for the policies and programmes.

However, PM Nepal said government would incorporate the spirit of amendment proposals during the implementation of the programmes. Policies and programmes of a coalition government cannot include programmes of each party, Nepal added.

Batting against Maoist leader Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai's remark that the present government was unconstitutional, PM Nepal said the present government is fully constitutional and committed to maintain civil supremacy.

Speaking at the House before Maoist lawmakers walked out Sunday morning Dr Bhattarai had said his party had deemed participation in the discussion of the programmes and policies not necessary as the government itself was unconstitutional.

Speaking during the discussion on the policies and programmes, Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the policies and programmes were not as per the agreement with his party. Programmes like 'Garibsanga Biseshwar' and 'Ganeshman Shanti Abhiyan' are excluded from the list despite the agreement with NC, he said.

After the programmes and policies of the government were passed, finance minister Surendra Pande presented the economic survey of the country of the fiscal year 2008/2009.

He will present the budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 Monday. Nepalnews.com