KATHMANDU, April 21: Senior leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC), Sher Bahadur Deuba, questioned Tuesday the intention of the government in seeking clarification from Nepal Army (NA) chief Rookmangud Katawal. [break]
"The Maoists are trying to harm the Nepal Army," former prime minister Deuba told mediapersons during an all-party meeting called by Nepali Congress at its office in Sanepa.
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- Maoist nod to ousting Katawal
- NC apprises President about its strong protest
- PM briefs Prez about cabinet´s decision on army chief
Deuba said the three issues on which the cabinet sought clarification from the NA chief were baseless.
"Since the issue of reinstating the retired army generals is a sub judice case, there is no point in seeking clarification with the army chief over the issue," said Deuba.
He also charged that the Maoists violated the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) by allowing the People´s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants to participate in the Nationals Games at the last hour.
"The PLA combatants must remain in UN-monitored camps until integration. But the prime minister allowed them participation in National Games violating the past agreement," Deuba said.
All political parties, except ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), are holding discussion on the row between the Maoists and the Nepal Army at NC office. The discussion started at 11:30 am Tuesday.
Deuba said the NC is seeking cooperation from all political parties to oppose the Maoist move.
Ill intention: Bhandari
CPN-UML central leader Bidhya Bhandari also termed the Maoist move as ´motivated by ill intention´.
"Although our party thinks that the government can seek clarification from army chief, the current one is motivated by ill-intention," Bhandari told mediapersons during the meeting.
"The government decision is strongly against peace process, independent judiciary and our party strongly opposes it," she added.
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