Chitwan, October 21:

Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ today called on youths to play leading role to meet the goals set by the government.

Badal was addressing an inaugural ceremony of Comprehensive Tihar Fair organised by Red Star Youth Club in Narayangarh.

Saying that the government’s foremost goal was to take the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion, he said that the peace process couldn’t be taken to a logical conclusion unless the personnel of People’s Republican Army (PLA) were integrated into Nepal Army to form a new national army. He also emphasised the need to bring a new security policy to bring lasting peace in the country.

“People who say that the integration of PLA personnel into Nepal Army would invite a new revolution are regressive elements,” Badal said.

Badal said that the aspirations of Nepali people will not be fulfilled until a new constitution was written. “We need to fight against anyone obstructing the constitution-writing process,” Badal said. He also said the government intended to trigger economic revolution by maximum utilisation of water resources.

Badal also urged people to fight against individuals or organisations that were “hatching conspiracies to disintegrate the country”.

CA members Chitra Bahadur Shrestha and Narayan Dahal, Maoists’ district in-charge Pathik, CDO Ratnaraj Pandey, SP Gyan Bikram Shah and leaders of other political parties also spoke on the occasion.