Change of army chief won't be acceptable to NC, says Poudel

Nepali Congress vice president Ram Chandra Poudel has warned of protests if the government sacked Chief of Army Staffs (COAS) Rookmangud Katawal, who was appointed during the reign of NC-led coalition.

Speaking at the Reporter's Club on Saturday, Poudel claimed that CPN (Maoist) is making every effort to influence the army, judiciary and police forces and that the current fresh recruitments opened by Nepal Army do not violate the peace accord.

Finance Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai had earlier clarified that the government was not mulling over appointing new army chief.

Stating his party is not trying to pull down the government, Poudel claimed the Maoist-led government will fall apart due to increasing differences among the coalition partners. He added that NC would work as an opposition until the next elections.

The NC leader also slammed the Maoists for undermining the role of his party president Girija Prasad Koirala in the peace process.

Poudel also protested the likely change in leadership of the army integration special committee, replacing Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. He said leadership change in the panel could delay the integration process. nepalnews.com ia Jan 03 09