Deputy Prime Minister and coordinator of the army integration special committee, Bam Dev Gautam, has said the committee would not be dissolved, but it could be reconstituted by including members of the opposition parties in it.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam
Speaking to reporters after a programme in the capital Saturday, Gautam, who is also the Home Minister in the Maoist-led coalition cabinet, said the special committee has not been able to start its work because efforts are still underway to forge political consensus on the army integration issue.

Referring to a recent comment of Vice President Parmananda Jha who described the special committee as being ‘unconstitutional’, Gautam said such views were unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional.

Only the Supreme Court can say whether the formation of the committee is constitutional or not, he added.

Trying to justify the government’s moves to improve security, chiefly the clampdown on the capital city’s nightlife, Gautam said through these actions the government wants to send a message to the international community that Nepal is a safe destination for visitors. nepalnews.com mk Nov 08 08