‘Arms deal a regular process’
POKHARA: Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari today said that the government was purchasing non-lethal weapons from India as part of its regular process.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Pokhara chapter of Reporters’ Club here, Bhandari said, “The government is not planning to purchase any lethal weapons but will purchase non-lethal weapons from India.”
“As the purchase of non-lethal weapons is part of the regular process of the government, it will not be against the Comprehensive Peace Accord,” he reasoned.
He said the weapons were being purchased for the regular utilities of army personnel who were out of their barracks.
When asked about the recent verdict of the apex court regarding the oath of Vice President Parmananda Jha, Bhandari said that the vice president should take fresh oath in Nepali language as per the verdict.
“As nobody is higher than the law, he (vice president) must abide by it,” he said.
Emphasising the need of political consensus, Bhandari stressed the need of forming a national government under the leadership of UML with the inclusion of the Unified CPN-Maoist.
He also said that the government would take necessary actions to control the skyrocketing inflation.