POKHARA: Deputy Chairman of CPN-UML Ashok Rai today said the Maoist combatants should undergo the same procedure as ordinary citizens to join the Nepali Army.

Talking to mediapersons here, Rai said the combatants considered ineligible as per the NA recruitment standards could not be taken in the national army. He was of the opinion that eligible combatants should be recruited in an industrial security force while those failing to meet the requirement should be discharged. Claiming that the government would not import any arms from India, he said it was being considered whether to bring in those purchased by the royal regime. He said the matter had been discussed following the NA complaint that they were running out of ammunition required for their training.

Regarding the Supreme Court verdict on the Vice-President’s oath taking in Hindi, he suggested that Jha follow the court ruling.