KATHMANDU: Standing Committee member of the CPN-UML KP Oli today claimed that the UCPN-Maoist would join the UML-led government within a few months. Talking to mediapersons at the Tribhuvan International Airport after returning from his week-long visit to India, Oli claimed that the Maoists would definitely join the government after a couple of months.

He also said that the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government would hand over power to the party elected after the drafting of the new constitution and logical conclusion of the peace process.

Senior UML leader Oli said that army generals exceeding their age limit would be retired from the army. “Nepali Army is not an old-age home,” Oli told mediapersons.

When asked about the encroachment on the Nepal-India border, Oli commented, “Border should not be encroached upon on either side. Even if there are instances of encroachment, such problems should be resolved through bilateral talks and discussions.” He further said that negative publicity would not resolve such problems.

He also said that he had assured the Indian leaders about the non-existent anti-Indian campaign when the latter had expressed concern about it. “Friendship,” was Oli’s one word reply when asked about what the Indian leaders had asked from Nepal.

Meanwhile, referring to the accusations made by the Maoists against the government calling it a ‘puppet government’, Oli said it was no coincidence that the puppet government had overthrown the so called ‘powerful’ government. Oli was on a private trip to India for his regular health check-up. He informed that he had met several Indian leaders, journalists and intellectuals during his visit.