Maoist govt failed due to its deep ties with PLA: Koirala

Former Prime Minister and President of the main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday remarked that the current Maoist-led government has become ineffective due to failure to make its view clear on Nepal Army (NA).

The government is failure on its part because of its inability to ‘quit’ the Maoist combatants, also known as People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and ‘accept’ the national army.

Talking to journalists at his residence in Biratnagar today, the octogenarian leader said, “The law and order situation of the country has worsened as a result of the controversy over army integration. It’s not sensible to keep two legs in two separate boats at the same time; the government should either choose Maoist combatants or national army.” The top leader of the main opposition party accused the Maoists of making mistake by dragging the NA into controversy. He opined that there is no alternative to move ahead by working together with all the democratic forces.

Koirala remarked that the recent cabinet decision was a tactic to sustain the government.

Claiming that he deserves a special privilege, Koirala said, “The government has tried to tempt me with lollipop, but I won’t be lured into sweets.”

The NC President said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal behaved as if he did not understand his saying when he tried to make him realise his responsibility towards the nation.

Disregarding the intense protest from the opposition parties and even the coalition parter CPN-UML, the government on Thursday decided to bring in three more ordinances relating to disappeared persons, inclusive government service and voters’ list for the upcoming by-election.

In recent days, the government has come under fire from various quarters over its decision to promulgate ordinances.

Likewise, there is growing cynicism between the Nepal Army and Maoist People’s Liberation after Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa told Nepal Army to stop fresh recruitment, claiming that the new recruitment in army was against the peace pact.

Courtesy of: Kantipur: February 7, 2009