President unhappy, to take decision after consulting parties

KATHMANDU, May 3: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said he will decide his next move after consulting other political parties following the split cabinet’s decision to sack the army chief. [break]

• Split cabinet sacks Katawal; NC calls all-party meet, UML its top body´s


• Katawal refuses to accept ´sack´ letter

During a meeting with Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) leaders at his official residence at Sital Niwas, President Dr Yadav expressed his dissatisfaction with the Maoists’ unilateral decision of sacking Nepal Army (NA) Chief Rookmangud Katawal, said a TMDP leader.




TMDP Spokesperson Sarbendra Nath Shukla, following the meeting said, “The president said the cabinet was split while taking the decision. He said he will talk to other political parties before taking a decision over the issue.”



Shukla added that the president was unhappy that prime minister ignored his advice to seek consensus before taking any decision on the army chief.



TMDP Chairman Mahanta Thakur said he told the President that his party was strongly against the government´s decision of sacking the army chief. “We told him (president) that the Maoist´s unilateral decision of sacking the army chief must be protested,” Thakur said.



Earlier, Nepali Congress (NC) leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Sushil Koirala met President Dr Yadav at his office.



During the meeting, the leaders discussed how to counter the government´s decision.



NSU burns tires, several city intersection report traffic jams


Cadres of Nepal Students Union (NSU) have hit the streets in protest of the Maoist´s decision of sacking Katawal. NSU students have blocked vehicular movements and are burning tires in front of colleges.



The situation in front of Tri-Chandra College near Ghantaghar on Durbar Marg is serious with NSU cadres burning tires and blocking off the road. Police have been deployed.



UML to quit govt



Meanwhile, ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) is holding its secretariat meeting to take a formal decision over the cabinet´s decision.



“The UML will certainly quit the government,” said a UML leader, preferring to remain unnamed until the party standing committee takes formal decision over the issue.



The NC has called an all-party meeting at its parliamentary party office at Singha Durbar at 2 pm to solicit support from all other political parties against the Maoist´s decision of sacking the army chief.



Police on high alert



Following the cabinet decision of sacking the army chief, the government has asked the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to stay on high alert ahead of the Maoist rally along the Rong Road as well the inner city areas. A source from the police said the Home Ministry has warned the police of possible curfew order. A police officer told Republica that curfew is likely if the rally turns violent.



Maoist cantonments on alert too



Meanwhile, the Maoist leadership has put on high alert its combatants in the People´s Liberation Army (PLA) in the 28 UN-monitored cantonments across the country.



The leadership is learnt to have told the commanders to guard the containers that stores the weapons that had been used during the Maoist conflict.

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