Khadka retires, Katawal denies meeting him
Lt. Gen. and second-in-command in the Nepal Army Kul Bahadur Khadka,
who was appointed as the acting chief by Maoist-led government retired
from his job from Saturday.
His retirement comes right after the UML-led coalition revoked the
decision of the former government and approved the step taken by
president Ram Baran Yadav to reinstate Rookmangud Katawal as the army
chief. Khadka said he would obey the government decision.
Though the army initiated action against Khadka alleging him of
violating the institution’s discipline, government restricted the
move. Due to government intervention, the NA failed to constitute any
court of inquiry against Khadka.
Khadka, who served in the army for 39 years, spent around two hours in
office on Friday to hand over his responsibilities to Chhatra Man
Singh Gurung, an officer junior to him. Reports say, his three
attempts to meet army chief Katawal were rejected, indicating how
rivalry had been built between these two army generals. Khadka spent
the last two months of his career in controversy but he never
discharged duties in capacity of the acting CoAS.
NA broke traditions to organise farewell programmes for retiring
senior army officials on Friday.
According to Annapurna Post daily, the usual Friday meeting of the
senior army officials started shortly after Khadka left the office
where army chief Katawal expressed satisfaction that Maoist attempt to
interfere into the army has ended at last. nepalnews.com June 20 09
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