Nepalgunj, October 23:

Minister for Education Renu Kumari Yadav today said the coordinator of the to-be-formed special committee for army integration should not be affiliated to the CPN-Maoist.

Speaking at a press conference organised by Banke chapter of Awadhi Journalists’ Association

here, she said, “Since the task is to adjust the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fighters into the Nepal Army, the coordinator to look after integration process should belong to the other parties.”

Yadav, also a central member of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF), said though her party is against integrating People’s Liberation Army with the national army, the qualified and deserving PLA fighters can be integrated, but separate provision should be made for those unqualified ones.

“All those who joined the people’s war can not be integrated with the national army,” she said. “What will happen if other armed groups also demanded to include their cadres in the Nepal Army.”

Minister Yadav, who is also a member of the committee formed to hold talks with the armed groups operating in Tarai, said nine armed groups, including Jwala Singh led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, are ready to hold dialogue with the government. She said the government would guarantee the security for those groups who sit for the talks.

Referring to Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam’s warning of taking action against the armed groups if they did not come for the talks, she urged Gautam not to interfere in others’ business.

“It does not fall under the Home Minister’s task to hold talks with the Tarai outfits,” she said.

Yadav said the agreements reached between the previous government and Tarai parties are

in the process of implementation.

“The progress in holding talks with the armed groups is also an outcome of the agreement.” She warned of quitting the government if their demands were not addressed in the new constitution.