Kathmandu, June 24:

The Nepali Congress was pressing for induction of representative of the main opposition party in the National Defence Council (NDC) to maintain checks and balances in governance and stop politicising of the Nepal Army, said NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC.

Addressing an interaction here, he said politically indoctrinated armed groups and national army could not be viewed from the same perspective.

“Group-wise integration of Maoist army into the NA can demoralise the national security organs in an post-conflict transitional period,” he said.

KC claimed that CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist alone could not make decisions on army integration without the approval of the Seven-Party Alliance.

KC further added that the NC’s stand was to keep the National Defence Council balanced and lead the peace process to a logical end.

Ishwor Pokharel of CPN-UML said a certain standard would be followed to integrate the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers into the NA.

UML leader Pokharel criticised Koirala government for not being able to form a special committee to introduce a concrete model to rehabilitate, integrate and oversee the PLA.

“This issue can be addressed only by amending the interim constitution,” he added.

Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun said two similar organisations with equal capacities could be integrated, but physically unfit and under-age would not qualify for integration.

“The Constituent Assembly election has changed the position of the political parities’ status,” said Pun adding that the NC was not willing to break the political stalemate.

“Even the NA needs to be expanded, democratised, made inclusive and oriented to uphold human rights,” he said.