Biratnagar, October 24:

Qualified Maoist combatants should be integrated into the Nepal Army after the formation of a special committee, CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari said today.

Talking to mediapersons at a greetings exchange and tea reception programme organised by Morang UML on the occasion of Dipawali today, Adhikari said the process of integration should be carried out in line with past agreements. He also made it clear that his party was against allowing a Maoist member to head the special committee.

He alleged that the government was not doing its job in a competent manner. Expressing his concern about delay in formulation of CA regulations, Adhikari warned that democracy would be in peril if a new constitution was not drafted on time.

He urged Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala to stop making only negative remarks on the government. He called on the main opposition to join the government.

On a query whether the UML would quit the government if the government failed to deliver, he said,

“At a time when we are asking even the NC to join the government, it is out of question for us to quit the government.”

NC central members Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Dr Shekhar Koirala attended the reception.