Participation meaningless now: Army official

KATHMANDU, April 7: A senior Nepal Army official designated to look after its sports activities said that it is now ´meaningless´ to participate in the Fifth National Games.



"It would be meaningless to participate in the event as NA has already decided to pull out of six major games," Lt Col Bhai Krishna Khatri told myrepublica.com. He also reconfirmed that the army took the decision because of the way Maoist´s PLA Sports Club was inducted in the Games. [break]



"PLA´s last minute involvement is against the rules and process set by the National Sports Council. The rules clearly spell involvement of three security agencies and five development regions," Khatri added.



Khatri took the decision to pull out of the games Tuesday morning while he was at the office of Director General of Military Training of Nepal Army.



Pointing at the political intervention from the prime minister at the last minute on April 6, Khatri said, "The tie-sheet was changed on the second day to accommodate them. Such intervention is not tolerable. One should remember that PLA Sports Club is not even a recognised sports body."



Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai said Nepal Army´s decision to pull out of the Games is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, according to dainikee.com.

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