"The Secretariat meeting has backed the cabinet decision on slapping show cause notice to the army chief," Secretariat member Barsha Man Pun said after the meeting that took place at the prime minister´s official residence at Baluwatar in the capital. "If his reply is not convincing, he should be removed."
On Monday, the cabinet asked the army chief to reply to the charges that he was defying the government´s authority. He has been given 24 hours to give his reply.
Pun also said that the Maoists would seek other parties´ support to their stance on Katawal.
The relation between the Nepal Army and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has hit an all-time low in recent times. The Maoists have accused the Nepal Army, particularly its chief, of defying civilian authority. Katawal has all along maintained that the army would abide by legitimate decisions of the civilian government.
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