DPM Gautam says PM has asked him to take action against erring YCL cadres

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam has said that the home administration will not shy away from taking action against cadres of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) if they take law into their hands.

“The Prime Minister (Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ who is the chairman of Maoists) has asked me to uphold rule of law. He has said that the government must take action against YCL cadres when needed,” Gautam said, speaking at a programme in Okhaldhunga district.

The second most senior cabinet member Gautam also spoke his mind on the contentious issue of army integration.

“There cannot be the wholesale integration of Maoist combatants into Nepali Army. Those who want to opt out from armed forces would be taken to their villages and rehabilitated then and there. Those who want to join police, will be allowed to join police and even a separate force will be set up, if needed,” he said. nepalnews.com sd Oct 17 08