Prime Minister Dahal could not enter into talks with Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala though he rushed to the Koirala residence at Maharajgunj immediately after returning to the capital from Sindhuli.
When Koirala refused to go into political talks, Dahal left after only inquiring about the former´s health. Koirala has told the prime minister that he would ask his party leaders about the Katawal issue Tuesday morning.
Dahal´s meeting with CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal could not be fruitful either. Khanal turned down Dahal´s request for support in dismissing Katawal from office. According to a source close to Khanal, Dahal said he was under pressure from inside the party not to back down and sought a bold decision by Khanal.
But in his response, Khanal said he could not go against the party standing committee decision that calls for a consensus. According to the source, Dahal has hinted at proceeding unilaterally if the UML does not cooperate with the government, but Khanal has warned the prime minister not to do that.
"The consequences will be bitter, and we may have to quit the government," the source quoted Khanal as saying.
Khanal toughened his stance following his party´s standing committee meeting Sunday and after he met Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala. During his meeting with Koirala, Khanal proposed an option agreeable to all.
The option was to dismiss Katawal, Lt. Gen. Kul Bahadur Khadka and Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa for having dragged the Nepal army into controversy. Koirala, however, said his party was caring not about any individuals in the army´s top positions but about a possible break-up in the army.
"Both the leaders agreed to explore consensus but ruled out the option of replacing Katawal with Khadka immediately," the source said.
Prime Minister Dahal is set to meet Koirala and Khanal separately Tuesday morning to discuss an option agreeable to all. The meeting with Koirala has been set for 9 a.m. but the timing for a meeting with Khanal has not been disclosed.
A meeting of 17 political parties including the ruling CPN-UML and CPN (United), which was initiated by the Nepali Congress, has decided to stand united against the government action. The reiteration of the stance has made it tougher for the Maoists to take a decision unilaterally despite party leaders´ public statements that they are ready to quit the government.
The issue of government action against the army chief has taken centerstage in Nepali politics.
Parliament´s meeting was adjourned Monday without entering the formal agenda, for the fifth time over the issue of government action against Katawal. When Nepali Congress lawmakers picketed the speaker´s rostrum, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties engaged in minutes-long sloganeering for and against the issue. Speaker Subas Nembang then adjourned the meeting till Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) have started advocating unilateral action if they fail to garner support from the other parties for action against Katawal.
"If we fail to persuade the other parties and they don´t agree with us, we will go unilaterally for action against the army chief," said the party´s chief whip in parliament Post Bahadur Bogati, speaking at the Reporters´ Club.
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