The government sought clarification from the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal because the latter repeatedly disobeyed its order, Minister for Information and Communication and government spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara said Monday.

He said the government has asked CoAS Katuwal to furnish clarification on controversial issues related to the army – army recruitment, reinstatement of eight retired army generals and NA’s boycott of the National Games.

Speaking at a programme in the capital city, Minister Mahara said the government has concluded that the army chief openly flouted the prime minister’s direct orders to stall the army recruitment process. He also said that the new recruitment by the army – which NA said was done to just fulfill vacant posts – was against the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

Similarly, he said the government has also deemed army chief’s action of reinstating the eight retired army generals whose tenure was not extended as against the military act and hence wrong.

Accusing the CoAS of challenging “people’s supremacy” by repeatedly disobeying the government orders, a cabinet meeting on Sunday had decided to seek clarification from CoAS Katawal.

The Ministry of Defense has already issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the CoAS today to come up with a valid clarification for his refusal to abide by government orders.

However, Deputy Prime Minster and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam has outright denied that there were any discussion regarding asking CoAS to furnish clarification on controversial issues related to the army during yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

Speaking at a press meet organized at the Ministry of Home Affairs today, he claimed that there were no discussion about any other issues other than providing appropriate compensation to the Koshi flood victims during yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

The UML minister said he is totally unaware about any plans of the government to take action against the army chief, although it has become common knowledge that the Maoist-led government is seriously considering relieving the army chief from his position.

Another senior UML leader Ishwor Pokharel also said the five coalition partners did not take up the issue of suspending army chief Rookmangud Katawal during their meeting held at prime minister’s residence at Baluwatar Monday morning. He, however, said that the army chief was clearly on the wrong for flatly disobeying the government orders.

However, emerging from the same meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said he briefed his coalition partners about the content of the letter in which the government has sought clarification from the army chief. nepalnews.com ag Apr 20 09