Kathmandu, December 18:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula today told the House of Representatives (HoR) that the management of arms and armies would begin after the UN team arrives by the end of December.

“A 35-member team of the United Nations would arrive here by the end of December and the management of arms and the armies would begin after that,” Sitaula said.

He also told the House that 70 containers that will be used for storing Maoists’ weapons in cantonments are now in Birgunj. The containers have been painted white and would soon be taken to the camps.

Sitaula also appealed to all political parties and the House to cooperate in the process of arms management and elections to a Constituent Assembly.

“Arms management is set to begin finally and unity among the parliamentary political parties is important at this stage,” he said. He also appealed to all to move ahead by forming a broader unity. Speaking at the special hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) demanded that the government present the interim constitution in the House soon.

MP Hom Nath Dahal asked whether or not the HoR could amend the interim constitution. MP Pashupati Shumsher Rana said the eight parties, including the Maoists, have made fun of the parliamentary system by not involving the opposition while finalising the interim statute.

The House today unanimously passed a proposal presented by the Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare on ratifying an optional protocol 1999 of the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Also today, a bill related to the National Women Commission was registered in the Parliament Secretariat.