Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli and Amik Sherchan. (File photo)
A row has emerged among top government officials regarding the statement of the Nepal Army criticizing the remarks of Maoist supreme Prachanda.
Speaking at a programme in the capital on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Amik Serchan said the government should be held accountable for the Nepal Army’s political comment about Maoist leader Prachanda’s statement regarding the Nepal Army.
Serchan said, “As officiating Prime Minister (PM) and head of the Ministry of Defense, I have discussed the issue with the secretary to the ministry. The issue will be raised in earnest in the cabinet after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala returns on Tuesday from Bangkok.”
Serchan further said, “The army should not raise political issues. The government is there for raising political issues.”
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula
(File photo)
Meanwhile speaking at another programme, another Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli has said reaction of the Directorate of Public Relations of the Nepal Army to Maoist Chairman Prachanda’s remark was natural.
Talking to reporters after a function in the capital Saturday, Oli, who also holds foreign affairs portfolio, said there could be some bad elements in the army, but a responsible leader should not make a negative remark about the entire institution.
Oli further said, “A responsible political leader like Prachanda should not have said what he has been reported to have said.”
Speaking at a programme in the capital on Saturday, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula asserted that as the army is an organ of the state, such reaction was not necessary.
“The government will speak if necessary,” Sitaula added.
UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal
(File photo)
Communist Party of Nepal (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said on Saturday that the government must take a stand on the controversy kicked off by what Maoist supremo Prachanda said about the army during a press conference at the prime ministerial residence last Friday.
“It’s time the government came up with a reaction on the issue. The point is, if the army indeed stepped over the line, the government must do what is needed under the circumstances,” Nepal said.
Nepal tried to downplay the row, saying “The army may have said what it did since there is no Defence Minister and advised Prachanda to “stop ridiculing the army.”
Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mahantha Thakur
(File photo)
Addressing an interaction in the capital on Friday, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mahantha Thakur, has alleged that the Nepali Army was trying to sabotage the peace process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, spokesman of the NA, Brigadier General Nepal Bhusan Chand, said the Nepali Army was seriously concerned over what it called objectionable comments and remarks made by the rebel leader “during the recent special government programme at an important venue which was telecast live all over the country and attended by top political leaders.”
“Nepali Army has—behind it—a history of over 225 years old culture of glorious nationalism, protection of territorial integrity and selfless sacrifice for people’s security. Nepal’s history is testimony to the fact that from the past to the present, the NA has always remained committed to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and dignity of the people under the direct command of the prevailing constitutional government,” the statement added.
Addressing a press conference after the high level talks with the leaders of seven political parties last Friday, Maoist supremo Prachanda had alleged the NA of doing nothing in its history other than killing Nepali people.
Prachanda alleged that Nepali Army had done nothing good except “murdering people and raping Nepali women.” The top rebel leader further said since the Nepali Army could not fight with India, China or the US, it should be reduced to around 20,000 from its present strength of 90,000.