NC objects to recruitment in PLA

Main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) has objected to the fresh recruitment drive of People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Speaking at a press meet on Tuesday, vice president of the party Ram Chandra Poudel said PLA’s decision to start new recruitments is objectionable as PLA is under the Army Integration Committee - which comprises representatives from all major political parties and against the norms of the peace accord.

Poudel accused the PLA commander of working with pro-war mentality and trying to compare themselves with the national army. “The Maoists are using the peace process as an opportunity to accumulate power,” he said.

NC has also called for an immediate meeting of the Army Integration Special Committee to discuss the issue.

Earlier, in a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC president Girija Prasad Koirala had also raised this issue. The PM had assured Koirala to stop the recruitment.

NC also criticised the government decision to declare 7,000 people as martyrs saying it has demoralised the status of martyrs.

Meanwhile, PLA deputy commander Nanda Kishor Pun has said that it will stop recruitments only if Nepal Army calls off its recruitment process. He also said that the recruitments would not stop just because the party chairman asked them to do so. nepalnews.com ia Mar 03 09

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