Rupandehi, November 7:

Acting president of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala said today that the integration of People’s Liberation Army combatants should be carried out in accordance with the comprehensive peace accord (CPA).

The NC stalwart was speaking at a press conference organised by the Rupandehi chapter of the Press Union here. “Certain quarters are trying to confuse people by kicking up a debate over the issue of integration of the Maoist People’s Liberation Army into the Nepal Army (NA),” said Koirala.

He claimed that the CPA had underlined the need to integrate the People’s Liberation Army into security bodies in general and not the NA in particular.

“There will be a revolt if the PLA is integrated into the NA,” said the acting president. “As the PLA is a political army, it cannot be integrated into the NA, which is professional one.” He urged the government to initiate the statute-making process at the earliest.”Certain quarters have sidelining the constitution-making process by raising issues of state restructuring and commissioning of mega projects.”

“The Maoists’ words and deeds do not match,” said the Congress vice-president, adding that the Maoists had not yet returned seized land and assets to the rightful owners.