Agreement to form general directorate in NA must hold irrespective of number, says PM's political advisor

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's political advisor Devendra Poudel Saturday said that a separate general directorate should be established in the Nepal Army irrespective of the number of combatants getting through the integration process.

Speaking at the Reporters Club, Poudel, who is a politburo member of the UCPN (Maoist), said the past agreement to form the general directorate cannot be overturned because of the low number of combatants getting integrated into the army.

"The integration process won't be any different than regular recruitment if general directorate is not formed. This is not acceptable to us," said he.

Meanwhile, Poudel the Prime Minister was ready to step down anytime provided there was a political agreement between the parties. He also said the Maoist party was ready for any option to end the present deadlock - reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly or fresh CA election.

Speaking at the same programme, Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh K.C argued that reinstatement of the CA would run counter to democratic norms and it would undermine the judicial supremacy as the CA was dissolved based on the Supreme Court's verdict.

UML leader Bhim Rawal also made a similar claim th, saying that reinstatement of the dead assembly would be subvert the mandate of the people. "The Maoists dissolved the CA for power and are now talking about reinstatement. This is a drama." nepalnews.com