The UCPN (Maoist) has decided to keep its claim for the post of Brigadier General unchanged while integrating the combatants into Nepal Army (NA).

Standing Committee meeting of the Maoist party held on Sunday at its headquarters in Perisdanda decided not to accept the integration if the combatants are not integrated up to the rank of Brigadier General.

The Maoist decision comes a day after the NA clarified that there have been no agreements to give the post of the Brigadier General to the combatants while integrating them into the NA.

Emerging from the meeting, Maoist secretary CP Gajurel said that the meeting decided to keep previous decision unchanged. He also said the integration without the rank up to Brigadier General will not be acceptable for the party.

Gajurel also reiterated party’s stand of unit-wise integration instead of individual recruitment based on the NA’s criteria.

Earlier on Saturday, NA had said it submitted the army integration proposal to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai as per the direction of the Defence Ministry following the decision of Army Integration Special Committee (AISC).

The NA also refuted media reports that it has agreed to give the post of Brigadier General to the combatants in its proposed directorate. nepalnews.com