KATHMANDU: Jhala Nath Khanal, President of CPN-UML, on Sunday said the Nepali Army shouldn’t be dragged into controversies.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Manmohan Memorial Foundation, Khanal

said, “Unnecessary and irrelevant debate about the national army is unsupportive of the peace process,” adding that the issues concerning the Nepali Army should be tackled on the basis of political consensus.

Khanal said lack of consensus among political parties would impede the constitution-writing process.

Criticising the Maoists’ attack on judiciary and other state organs, he also directed his party cadres to retaliate against Maoist atrocities.

Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narasingh KC accused the Maoists of violating the politics of the

consensus.

He said, “In the name of people’s supremacy, the UCPNM is trying to impose autocracy by debilitating the national army.” He also urged CPN-UML leaders to be wary of the Maoists’ ill-intention.

Narayan Kaji Shrestha, leader of UCPN-Maoist, said his party was fully committed to the politics of consensus.

He said, “Confrontation would obstruct

the timely promulgation of the constitution,” adding, the government had the authority to

seek the clarification from the Chief of

Army Staff.

Shrestha claimed that the only intention of the UCPN-Maoist in seeking clarification from CoAS Rookmangud Katawal was to maintain civilian control over the military.

Hridyesh Tripathi of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party said sacking the CoAS would intensify the confrontation.

He accused the Maoists of being motivated by their own political interests.

Claiming that the government had failed to resolve the Nepali Army issue, Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya

Janmorcha Nepal said government was making the CoAS Rookmangud Katawal a hero instead of solving the real issue.

He said his party would intensify the anti-federalism movement in the days to come.