Maoists insist on Army's future before drafting constitution

Kathmandu, Aug 7 (ANI): CPN (Maoist) Chairman and former Prime Minster Prachanda on Friday said that the new Constitution cannot be drafted if President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Rookmangud Katawal was not discussed in the parliament.

Talking to reporters here, Prachanda claimed the new Constitution cannot be drafted unless the issue was not discussed as they were vital for the national sovereignty.

Prachanda opined that civilian supremacy would be established in the country once the proposal is tabled in the parliament and his party would accept any kind of decision taken by the parliament.

On Thursday, the meeting of the High Level Political Mechanism taskforce, which comprises leaders from the UML, the Nepali Congress and the Maoists, had ended inconclusively after failing to reach an amicable agreement on the issues raised by the Maoists.

According to Nepalnews, the ruling parties and the Maoists remained adamant on their respective positions.

While the Maoists reiterated their earlier demand, the UML and the Nepali Congress maintained that the issue has lost its relevancy and shouldn't be taken up for discussion in the parliament. ater, the ruling coalition which includes 22 of 24 parties represented in the Constituent Assembly held a meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence and called on the Maoist to withdraw their protest programme.

The 22 parties also rejected the Maoists demand that the government address the issue of civilian supremacy and decided to jointly face the challenges posed by the Maoists.

However, the Maoists have said they will even resort to obstructing the public programmes of the President, Prime Minister and Ministers if the government doesn't heed their demands. (ANI)