PM Nepal to decide on army chief row

KATHMANDU: The cabinet meeting today decided to discuss on the erstwhile government’s decision to sack Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal only after celebrating the first Republic Day, which falls on May 29.

“Today’s cabinet meeting discussed the CoAS issue. The cabinet has authorised the Prime Minister to decide on the issue. We did not take any decision on the issue considering the seriousness of the Republic Day,”

said Finance Minister Surendra Pandey.

Former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal tendered his resignation on May 4 after the President vetoed the government decision to sack the army chief. The Prachanda-led government had sought clarification from Katawal on April 20 and decided to pension him off on May 3.

The cabinet meeting also decided to extend the tenure of UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights-Nepal by three months. The term of OHCHR is expiring in June.

“The government has decided to mark the first Republic Day by organising a grand programme at Tundikhel. We have decided to lay the foundation stone of ‘Republican Monument’ at Ratnapark on the day,” Pandey said.

Pandey also said the PM had instructed secretaries of the home, physical planning and works and water resources ministries to visit the Koshi barrage and do the needful to prevent any disaster due to monsoon floods.