Nepalgunj, November 11:

General secretary of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal has said that the commander of an insurgent force cannot be made the commander of the national army.

He was speaking at a press conference organised by the Press Chautari, Banke, today.

“In no way can Nanda Kishor Pun ‘Pasang’ of the People’s Liberation Army be made the commander-in-chief of the national army.” The UML chief said the army integration special committee would be reshuffled by tomorrow.

“The special committee formed to look after army integration issue would be reshuffled before the Prime Minister leaves for India.”

“The Nepali Congress has also agreed in principle to join the reshuffled special committee,” said Khanal.

The NC, CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist should move ahead in accordance with the seven-point understanding reached after the constituent assembly polls,” reasoned Khanal.

He said that the country had suffered due to two extremist ideologies.

“There’s a party, which says not a single PLA combatant shall be integrated into the national army, while the other party says the entire PLA shall be merged into the national army. These opposing stances have jeopardised the PLA integration process.”

He accused the Defence Minister of confusing the public.

“Though my party failed to win the desired number of seats in the Constituent Assembly polls,

it is inappropriate to undermine it. The UML is the largest democratic and communist party in the country.”

He claimed that his party would regain its lost glory within two years.

Replying to a query, he said the CPN-UML is a model of unity of the communist parties. He said talks were underway with other parties to forge a united front.

He called on the CPN-Maoist to return the seized property to the rightful owners. “The Maoists will have to pay the price if they delay the process of returning the seized property.”