Army can be mobilised in elections: Nepal Army chief

Kathmandu, Feb 23 (UNI) Nepal's Chief of Army Staff Rukmangat Katawal today said the army could be mobilised during the coming Constituent Assembly polls.

''Army can be mobilised on the government's direction,'' Kantipur online quoted the army chief as saying in Chitwan.

The government controls the Nepal Army and the army could be mobilised under democratic norms during the April 10 polls, he said.

The army chief's comment comes at a time when the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has rejected the state autonomy in Madhes demanded by the recently formed political parties of Madhes, saying it was against the unity and sovereign integrity of the Himalayan nation.

The major political parties and civil society leaders have criticised the Nepali Congress for holding talks with the Madhesi leaders at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu held last week to resolve the crisis of Madhes.

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