Sources close to the attorney general told myrepublica.com that Baidya called on the Prime Minister last week and offered to resign if the latter felt uneasy due to his vocal remarks against the Maoist cadres and Dr Bhattarai who protested the stay order that let the army officers return to their job. The Maoists were angry over the court order because they did not want the brigadier generals in the office for the second term.
The sources further revealed that the chief legal advisor to the Maoist-led government met the Prime Minister last week after he came to know that Maoist cadres were exerting pressure on the Prime Minister sack Baidya for speaking against the party.
In a statement to media on March 31, the attorney general had criticized the Maoist cadres for taking to the street against the stay order and burning the effigies of Justice Kalyan Shrestha who issued the stay order.
“I have received feedback on your statement but I do not care about it. Please do not resign,” a minister who was present during Baidya’s meeting with the Prime Minister quoted the PM as telling Baidya.
When contacted about his meeting and readiness to resign, the Attorney General just said, “I do not want to comment on my meeting with the Prime Minister last week.”
Baidya, according to sources, further told the Prime Minister that he wanted to clear the way to the Prime Minister to appoint a lawyer close to his party, if he wanted so.
The Prime Minister is under pressure from his party rank and file for choosing apolitical person like Baidya for the post of attorney general. The judge-turned attorney general has maintained that he is not a member of the Maoist party and had been providing legal advice to the Prime Minister and government as a professional.
Sources close to the attorney general said some Maoist lawyers were eying the post of AG ever since Baidhya assumed the post last September because he is not a member of their party.
A lawyer close to the Maoist and eyeing the post said that he had no information about the pressure on the Prime Minister to relieve Baidhya. “I am not aware of this development,” the lawyer said seeking anonymity.
kiran@myrepublica.com
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