Defense Minister Bidya Devi Bhandari summoned Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal to her office at Singha Durbar and sought clarification from him on a statement to media by Brigadier General BA Kumar Sharma, head of the army´s legal department. Katawal, on his part, also inquired from Bhandari about the “deal” between the Maoists and CPN-UML. [break]
“NA must not give any political statement anymore. The government wants to settle the controversy in the NA politically,” a highly-place source at the ministry quoted Bhandari as telling to Katawal.
In his statement to the media on Friday, Sharma had blamed the government for the delay in taking action against Khadka for breaching NA´s chain of command by meeting political leaders, including the prime minister, and by giving interviews to newspapers, without informing the institution. He had further accused the government of allowing politics a backdoor entry into the national army by ignoring his department´s recommendation to form an inquiry board to probe into Khadka´s activities. His department, after a preliminary investigation, had concluded that Khadka´s activities were against military standards and principles.
The NA is in controversy after the then Maoist-led government sacked Katawal and appointed Khadka as acting army chief on May 3. Katawal has continued to be in the office after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav stayed Katawal´s sacking while Khadka is the acting army chief.
Bhandari also assured Katawal of revoking his sacking by the past government in line with then decision of 18 political parties, said the source.
kiran@myrepublica.com
Related story
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande Conferred Honorary Rank o...
