A day after arriving from New Delhi after consulting with his bosses at the South Bloc on the latest political developments in Nepal, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal for the fourth consecutive time Sunday.

The timing of the meeting is significant especially when it has taken place when the government is said to be planning to oust Chief of Army Staff General Rookmangud Katawal despite severe opposition from political parties including the main opposition Nepali Congress.

Key coalition partner CPN-UML has also urged the Maoist to seek consensus of political parties before taking any decision on the Army chief’s case

Sood had last week held number of parleys with PM Dahal on the Govt-Army row, wherein he reportedly warned the former rebel chief that his government will annoy New Delhi if it decides to relieve the Army chief from his post.

Earlier, PM Dahal met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas, the President’s office, and made it clear that the government is intent on taking action against General Katawal despite pressure from various quarters to forgo such a plan.

Thereafter, PM Dahal visited NC founding leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu where the latter is undergoing treatment for heart and kidney failure.

PM Dahal, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, queried about the former prime minister’s health progress with doctors involved in his teaching.

Meanwhile, ruling Unified CPN (Maoist) lawmakers have expressed concerned over the unexpected rise in what they called as “foreign interference” in the country’s internal affairs after the government decided to take action against its army chief citing non-compliance of orders.

Speaking at the meeting of the Legislature-Parliament today, Maoist spokesperson and lawmaker Dina Nath Sharma claimed that Nepal’s sovereignty is in “serious danger” and that the republic, which is still in its infant stage, has become weak following the unnecessary foreign interference over the decision taken by an elected government.

Sharma, by making this kind of remark, was clearly hinting at the stand taken by Indian Ambassador Sood including envoys from US and European countries against government’s plan to sack the Army chief.

He also questioned whether the government should back down on a vital decision it has taken just on foreign pressure, and called on all to uphold “people’s supremacy” by backing the government’s move.

In yet another development, an informal meeting of the Maoist ministers called by PM Dahal at Singha Durbar appeared to second key coalition partner CPN-UML’s decision by reaching an agreement to take action against General Katawal only after taking major political parties into confidence on the issue. nepalnews.com ag Apr 26 09