The government has not decided to mobilize army: Sitaula
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula has said that the cabinet had not made a decision to mobilise the army.
Speaking at the question answer session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Sitaula said, “I have not written a letter to the army calling on them to march on the streets.”
In a query of lawmaker Lila Mani Pokhrel of People's Front Nepal, to whether the army was being mobilised by the cabinet, Sitaula said, “The government is making efforts to improve the law and order situation, but had not mobilized army for the purpose.”
Earlier, some reports quoted spokesman of Nepali Army Brigadier-General Nepal Bhusan Chand as saying that “our soldiers have begun normal patrolling in the key areas under standard operating procedure”.
MPs, speaking during the special session of the House, criticised Sitaula for not being effective in maintaining law and order.
Lawmakers drew the government’s attention on the issues of poor security situation, an abrupt escalation in the incidences of looting, violence, abduction and robbery.
“The government has issued directives to the police to see to it that no untoward incidents take place,” Sitaula said.
Asking the Maoists to abide by the code of conduct, Sitaula sought cooperation from all the political parties “to move ahead in a united manner”.
Meanwhile, speaking at a programme attended by the chiefs of all police departments, Home Minister Sitaula expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of police to nab those involved in criminal activities in the capital.
He also accused police of being unable to adapt to the changed context. nepalnews.com pb May 31 06
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