Nepal

Step down, Jhakri tells Defence Minister

Step down, Jhakri tells Defence Minister

By Himalayan News Service

PALPA: Ram Kumari Jhakri, chairperson, All Nepal Free Students’ Union aligned to CPN-UML today said that Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari should resign immediately. Speaking at a programme organised by Press Chautari, Palpa chapter, in Tansen, Jhakri said, "Her remarks regarding the rehabilitation of the People's Liberation Army are against the peace process so she has no right to remain in the government.'' Few days back, minister Bhandari had stated that she would not accept the decision of the special committee regarding the rehabilitation and integration of PLAs. Jhakri opined that the peace process was at the brink of collapse as there was no common stance of the cabinet ministers on various national issues. Stating that the role of civil society was important to take the peace process to a logical conclusion but she lamented that there was no independent civil society in the country. She also said that the students would start a national campaign from January 24 to pressure for timely statue drafting. Accusing that those who were against the High-Level Political Mechanism were extreme rightist she added, "I disagree with the Constituent Assembly panel decision of carving14 states in the country, though.''