Parliament proclamation to curb King's power deferred

Kathmandu, May 15 (UNI) The parliamentary proclamation to curb the power of the Nepal King and bring the army under the parliament was deferred today due to the differences among the seven-party alliance (SPA).

The announcement of the House proclamation was deferred as the SPA leaders were divided over some of its key points including the possession of the Supreme-Commander-in-Chief post of the Royal Nepalese Army, media report said quoting leaders of the alliance.

Nepali Congress-Democratic (NC-D) President Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the King should be the Supreme-Commander-in-Chief of the army even if he is not allowed to put on army uniform, Kantipur said quoting a leader of the seven parties attending the meeting.

The House will pass the proclamation after the expansion of the cabinet within a couple of days, leaders said after the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence today.

Mr Deuba has not presented the names of his partymen and hence the delay in expansion of the cabinet, Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the CPN,UML said.

The parties were set to scrap the Rajparishad, a controversial advisory body of the King, bring army under the parliament, change the royal Nepal army into Nepal army and His Majesty's Government to Nepal Government and curb the power of the King.

Mr Deuba objected to some of the issues including the continuity of supreme commander of the army to the King, the leaders said.

The proclamation will be presented in the House after the expansion of the cabinet, it is said.

UNI XC ARB HS2231