KATHMANDU: Former chief of army staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal on Friday said that the Nepal Army would not remain silent if violence erupts in the nation after May 28, the deadline for the promulgation of the statute.

Speaking to media persons at his residence in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Katawal said, "If there is bloodshed among people after May 28, Nepal Army will not remain a mere spectator."

"If somebody has made a bullet to target my head, I welcome it. I am ready to die for Nepali people," he said.

Ostensibly referring to the Unified CPN-Maoist plan of launching a people's revolt by bringing about a split in the Nepal Army, Katawal said, "Since the Nepal Army has been actively maintaining peace in the country for long, NA is not as weak as certain people think. Nobody can split it."

Expressing doubt that the democratic system may face a challenge after the demise of former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Katawal hinted at the possibility of the NA emerging from the barracks to safeguard democracy.

He said that the fate of several issues including monarchy, federalism and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu State should be decided through a referendum.

Saying that people enjoy the rights to expression in a democratic system, Katawal said, "I am of the firm belief that people should be given the right to speak directly on grave national issues, if parties are committed to the democratic culture and sovereignty of the nation."

Hinting at the Maoists, Katawal said that people will not believe them unless they hand over all their weapons to the State. Without naming the party, Katawal said, "Those who were not under the State carrying weapons in the past should hand over their weapons to the State to get the people's faith in the State mechanism."

"All the contentious issues including PLA management should be settled as per the Interim Constitution and the Comprehensive Peace Accord," he said.

Saying that he is concerned about the future of the PLA fighters staying in the cantonments, Katawal said, "The PLA fighters are staying in the cantonments like prisoners. Can't they live independently? For whose benefit are they forced to stay in the cantonments?"

Saying that every Nepali can join NA after fulfilling the established recruitment norms, Katawal hinted that PLA fighters can't be integrated with the NA.

"All the agreements reached so far don't mention that the PLA will be integrated with NA. However, the agreements mention that PLA fighters will be integrated with the established standard or integration may be possible," Katawal said, adding that, not a single agreement speaks about integrating the PLA fighters into NA.

"Integration must be based on individual capacity fulfilling the criteria set for recruitment in NA," Katawal reasoned.