KATHMANDU: Seventeen parties, including main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) and coalition partner CPN-UML, on Tuesday urged President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to intervene in the case against Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal.

After holding a meeting at NC headquarters, Sanepa, leaders of the 17 parties reached Shital Niwas to draw the President’s attention on the controversial issue.

“The President was urged to stop the unconstitutional move of the Maoist-led government,” said a member of the delegation.

The government was hauled up for trying to intervene in the national army to further its political interests. “The government’s move to seek clarification from the CoAS, which could lead to his retirement, is the latest one towards a step to autocracy,” read a joint statement.

“The government cannot decide on its own on matters that can seriously impede the peace process and drafting of the constitution,” the parties said.

Bidhya Bhandari of the CPN-UML, CP Mainali of the CPN-Marxist Leninist, Surya Bahadur Thapa of the Rastriya Janashakti Party, Pashupati Sumsher Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and senior NC leaders, including ex-PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and acting president Sushil Koirala,

attended the meeting.