Today's News

Nobody is happy with Maoists : Koirala

Nepal, March 15 : Concluding a five-day visit to India, Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala said the Unified CPN (Maoist)-led coalition has not satisfied anybody.He stated the country has fallen into crisis since the Maoists surged as a force capable of running a government.“Nobody is happy with the Maoists. They say one thing and do other,” he told journalists at the airport in New Delhi on Sunday.Amidst various speculations regarding the trip which Koirala reasoned for medical check-up, he clarified that his party does not intend to pull down the government.Establishment of sustainable peace is NC’s major responsibility and thus, it will not do anything on this reagrd, he said.He further suggested the Maoists to focus on drafting the constitution instead of bickering.He was quick to add, though, that the current government is an interim one, like the one he led previously.He went on to say that the Maoist-led government cannot make decisions on important issues, besides drafting a new constitution.Despite saying his trip was strictly for medical reasons, the octogenarian leader met senior leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian Foreign Minister and Secretary Pranab Mukherjee and Shiva Shankhar Menon respectively.The NC President had his health checked at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) in New Delhi.His health condition is normal, his doctor Jagadish Prasad Agrawal informed.

Govt, Tharus reach 6-point pact
Nepal, March 15 : The talks between the government and the Tharu groups on Saturday ended in a six-point agreement that called for recognizing Tharus and other indigenous ethnic communities in the "Tarai" as distinct groups.This was decided after the talks between the Tharus and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter´s official residence at Baluwatar. Among the agreement is replacing "Tarai" with "Tarai Madhes" in the constitution, amending the ordinance that called for representation of "Madhesi" in state organs, declaring the four dead protestors as martyrs, the government bearing the cost of treatment of the injured protestors, and releasing those arrested.As part of the agreement, the Tharu protestors have withdrawn all protest programs, including the banda that was called for Sunday.The government has to implement the agreement by March 29, the day when the session of Legislature-Parliament begins. The agreement will be tabled in the parliament for endorsement."The government has agreed to make legal and constitutional amendments to meet the demands of the agitating Tharus vis-à-vis their identity," said Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma.The Tharu groups, led by Raj Kumar Lekhi of Tharu Kalyankari Sabha and Laxman Tharu of Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee said, after the talks ended, that since the government agreed to recognize separate identity of the Tharus and other indigenous groups from the "Tarai", the word "Madhes" in the interim constitution stands redundant.However, minister Sharma said that the government has agreed to make necessary changes so as to replace the word "Madhes" with "Tarai Madhes".Hridayesh Tripathi of Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party who participated in the talks as an observer also said that "Madhes would be replaced with "Tarai Madhes".The talks between the government had earlier broken down after the Tharu representatives refused to continue dialogue with the Sharma-led government talks team saying it lacked authority to strike an agreement with the agitators. They insisted holding a dialogue with only the prime minister.It was then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal started talks with an agitating Tharu groups.The talks began shortly after a meeting of five ruling and two opposition parties gave mandate to the prime minister to find a solution acceptable to Madhesi parties and the Tharus over the ongoing Tharu stir.The Tharu groups have been protesting for the last two weeks demanding a separate identity for their community.

Two killed in Dang police firing
Nepal, March 14 : Two protestors were killed and 11 others injured Friday night in police firing at Sisahiriya in Dang district.The deceased have been identified as agitating Tharuhat Struggle Committee's (TSC) cadres Prakash Chowdhary and Ram Prasad Chowdhary, residents of Lathawa, Sisniya VDC-7.The police resorted to firing in a clash that ensued between the agitators and the police after the protestors defied the curfew and obstructed the police while the police was escorting the stranded passenger vehicles. They had died while undergoing treatment at the primary health center in Lamahi.Some eight policemen and three protestors were also injured in the clash.Pramindra Chowdhary, Janjiru Chowdhary and Pradeep Chowdhary of Lathuwa, Sisniya VDC-7, who were injured in police firing, are undergoing treatment in Nepalgunj.Eight police personnel were injured after the agitators clashed with police, District Police Office Dang said. They also vandalised a truck (Na 1 Ga 691). The Dang District Administration (DDA) has extended the area where it had clamped curfew along the East-West highway since 9 last night to contain the situation.The DDA has imposed indefinite curfew order in Baluwang Bazaar in the east, Chailahi VDC in the west, Gadawa in the southern region and highway region in the north. Meanwhile, two police posts of Dang have been integrated with other police units citing security reasons. Likewise, the talks between the government and the agitating Tharu's that was held till late night yesterday ended inconclusively.Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma, Minister for Water Resources Bishnu Poudel, senior leader of Tharu Kalyankari Sabha Raj Kumar Lekhi and Laxman Tharu of Joint Tharuhat Struggle Committee were engaged in the talks.The Tharu protestors have demanded to delete the word Madhesh from the interim constitution and to hold talks in the Prime Ministerial level."Now, we will hold talks with the Prime Minister, if the government is not ready, the situation will be disastrous," Laxman said.Meanwhile, Sharma said the rights of others can not be abolished in the name establishing of another right."Madhesh can not be termed as Tarai," Sharma added.Meanwhile, the two parties have intensified internal parleys after the talks failed to make headway.The participants from the Tharu community have said they will continue with the protests as the government is not serious over their demands.

Mahendranagar students submit memo to PM

Nepal, March 8 : Political parties, civil society and student representatives submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Kanchanpur Chief District Officer demanding establishment of Far-Western Regional University in Mahendranagar on Sunday.They have demanded the PM to implement the suggestions forwarded by the taskforce to set up the University in Mahendranagar.Earlier today, a meeting of the representatives of seven parties including Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Rastriya Janamorcha had decided to form a Joint Struggle Committee for pressing their demands in a peaceful manner.It has been known that the struggle committee will comprise representatives from political parties, civil society and students.Meanwhile, the students have continued their struggle to press for the demands in Kanchanpur district.The irate students vandalised over six government offices in the district.The students have been launching protest pressing the government to set up Far-Western Regional University in Mahendranagar since a week.

MISSION CONSTITUTION: Too busy elsewhere

Nepal, March 8 : Lawmakers, who have arrived in Palpa to gather public opinion for the new constitution, are busy attending school functions and various other programmes. Lawmaker Kul Prasad Nepal, who arrived at Kusumkhola to conduct the constitution opinion poll, was found attending anniversary programme of Bhawani Higher Secondary School on Friday. Similarly, another lawmaker Lila Somai was busy addressing a function at Tribhuvan Multiple Campus on the same day. Lawmaker Pradip Gyawali also attended a programme of Nepal Intellectuals' Council as chief guest. Lawmakers Mohan Pandey and Rupa BK did not show up in the areas they were assigned to.

Cabinet to discuss Tharu demands

Neapl, March 8 : The government on Sunday decided to address the demands of the agitating Tharu community through the following day’s cabinet meeting.After completion of informal talks with the representatives of Tharu community at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal gave the assurance to address the demands through cabinet meeting.Representatives from several agitating Tharu organisations including the Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee (TJSC) participated the informal discussion.Keeping in view with the unrest that has engulfed Tarai over the past one week, PM Dahal, yesterday, had announced the protestors to come for dialogue.Earlier today, PM Dahal and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma discussed about the issues to be discussed in the impending talks with the agitating Tharu community.TJSC coordinator Laxman Tharu, however, informed that the peaceful struggle would continue.Their immediate demands include scrapping of the ordinance that erroneously enlisted Tharu as Madhesis, declaration of the ones killed during the struggle as martyrs, compensation to the victims, among others.The indefinite struggle called by TJSC and several Tharu outfits and the ensuing clash has already claimed three lives and has crippled life in Tarai districts for the past one week.

Linguistic survey begins

Nepal, March 8 : At a time when Constituent Assembly members have been doubling up their efforts to draft a new constitution and for state restructuring, the government has formally begun the linguistic survey of Nepal from Friday.The government launched the survey in a bid to develop a socio-linguistic profile of all the languages of Nepal, maintain their complete database, map out and develop a description for use of mother tongues in education and in local administration, produce a basic description of each of them, among other things."It is needed urgently to conduct a survey at the moment when the issues of language have become controversial, and moreover, majority of them are in the verge of extinction," said Prof. Yogendra P Yadhav, head of Central Department of Linguistics (CDL), Tribhuvan University, and team leader of National Language Policy Recommendation Commission.According to Yadav, the CDL has been entrusted with all the responsibilities for completion of the survey. The last survey of any kind was done about a century ago by British when it conducted a linguistic survey of India between 1904 and 1928. National Planning Commission (NPC) had formed NLPRC led by Prof. Yadav to address the controversy over languages, following the political change in the country. Spending over eight months, NLPRC came up with the proposal for a linguistic survey.Subsequently, NPC approved the proposal and incorporated it in its three-year plan on a high priority basis, according to an official. "The development of cultural and linguistic traits is one of the major foundations for sustainable development of the country," said Prof. Dr. Guna Nidhi Sharma.According to the approved proposal, the survey will be conducted through questionnaires as well as observation. Basic glossary of words will be collected and their meanings written down in Nepali, English and respective mother tongues, so that it will be easy to write a curriculum for use in schools and in administration. The survey will also study the language used by the deaf.He also said there had been two earlier attempts at conducting a survey of the country's languages - Grierson Konow Survey (1898-1927) and German Research Council Survey (1981-1984) but both had to be abandoned due to lack of finances.Ministry of Local Development has allocated Rs. 2.5 million and Ministry of Culture and State Restructuring has allocated Rs. 1.5 million in the first phase.However, Prof. Yadhav estimates that it will cost a total of Rs. 500 million for the completion of whole project, which will take seven years' duration. He said over 200 linguists, community leaders and IT experts will be mobilised. Training for field linguists will be conducted soon and will be assigned field work.The Ethnologue, an encyclopedia of international languages, has listed 126 languages which are spoken in Nepal, whereas the census of 2001 shows only 92 languages being spoken in the country.

NC declines UML urge to join govt

Nepal, March8 : At a time when there has been a wide criticism that the government has been ineffective, coalition partner CPN-UML Sunday urged the major opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) to join the government.In a meeting with NC President Girija Prasad Koirala, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that time has not yet come to look for an alternative to Maoist-led government and urged the NC to move ahead with consensus.In return, the NC President declined any chances of his party joining the government.UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who was also present at the meeting, said that Koirala raised concerns over delay in the constitution-drafting process.The duo also discussed about the ongoing unrest in Tarai and dispute in new army enlistment.It has been learnt that Koirala, who has been advocating for a broader democratic alliance, gave inkling about the importance of the alliance in front of the UML Chief.The octogenarian leader is known to be leaving for New Delhi this week for his medical check-up.

Cop slain, two killed:Riots rule, curfew on in Chitwan

Nepal, March 8 : Tension escalated in Ratnanagar Municipality of Chitwan district on Friday after Kamal Chaudhary and Bipin Chhetri, who had sustained gunshot wounds in police firing, died in course of treatment on Thursday night and Friday. Chaudhary was shot while he was participating in a demonstration of the Tharu community, while Chhetri was shot while he was watching the demonstration from his house. Defying the curfew order of the district administration, enraged protesters descended on the streets and clashed with security personnel. The curfew is in force indefinitely.The mob hacked Armed Police Force (APF) constable Kumar Budathoki to death. At least 20 people, including police personnel, were injured in the ensuing clash. Around 40 demonstrators were detained. Police constable Prakash KC, who was critically injured, has been airlifted to the capital for treatment. Local people have accused the security personnel of barging into houses and attacking innocent people after Budathoki was killed. Meanwhile, demonstrators agreed to continue with their stir in a peaceful manner after an agreement at the District Administration Office (DAO). Chief District Officer Ratnaraj Pandey said the agitators had agreed to go for peaceful protests after the administration pledged to compensate the families of those killed in the Chitwan clash and bear medical expenses of the injured. The Tharu community continued with its protests in various Tarai districts against the recently-issued ordinance that has enlisted the group under the Madheshi category. In Siraha district, agitators continued to stage rallies and demonstrations in various areas. Ten people were injured when demonstrators clashed with police at Bardaghat in Nawalparasi district. The protesters also vandalised four vehicles at Tulsinagar in the district. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma said in Kathmandu that he had sent formal letters to the Tharu Welfare Council and Tharu Liberation Front inviting them for talks. He informed that the dialogue could "possibly" be held on Saturday. The agitating groups acknowledged receiving the government invitation for talks, but said they would sit for parleys only after the cabinet corrected its decision on categorisation of the Tharus as Madhesis and the Prime Minister addressed them directly.

OHCHR calls for restraint

Nepal, March 8 : The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) has urged all sides to exercise restraint during protests and resolve differences through talks. “Protesting groups should use peaceful means only, while the Nepal Police and APF should use minimum force, and if force is necessary, ensure that it is proportional to the threat posed,” OHCHR-Nepal said in a statement. The UN body also expressed concern about the “use of live ammunition by police”.

PLA commander: PM doesn't count
Nepal, March 7 : A commander of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Friday that PLA's seventh division based in Bhangadhi would go ahead with recruitment, come what may.“The PLA will not stop the recruitment even if the party Chairman and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself issues directives against the fresh intake. Not even comrade Prachanda can stop us,” said division commander Mahendra Bahadur Shahi as a local newspaper published the vacancy announcement in its Friday edition. The division plans to recruit some 1,906 combatants. He said the PLA initiated the recruitment as the Nepal Army (NA) was taking in recruits. On Thursday, Dahal had said the recruitment controversies surrounding the NA and PLA would be over within a few days.

Rights situation on right track: OHCHR
Nepal, March7 : The United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has stated that the human rights situation in Nepal has improved significantly after the end of the decade-long conflict.The transformation in Nepal is profound; a new government has come to power on the basis of a popular vote and monarchy has been replaced by a republic, according to the OHCHR's annual report on the human rights situation released on Thursday.“The challenges to the consolidation of the peace process may be as daunting as those which have been surmounted thus far. OHCHR Nepal has repeatedly stated that a focus on addressing human rights issues that lay at the root of the conflict and are the key to durable peace and development, including impunity, structural inequalities and discrimination, must remain central during the transition period.”Many provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are yet to be implemented, including mechanisms for the monitoring of the peace process, the report states. Chronic electricity shortages and floods have compounded the problems presented by a slowing economy, deteriorating security, especially in the Tarai, slow progress regarding the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army combatants and the development of the constitution.OHCHR has also urged the government to strengthen public security, the rule of law and accountability. “The Nepali people, who have suffered long years of deprivation and denial as a result of the conflict, are entitled to have their human rights respected and fulfilled.”The UN body has urged the government to implement the recommendations of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights that include the adoption of legislation that is in full compliance with the Paris Principles and ensuring that the National Human Rights Commission has adequate funding and financial autonomy.Welcoming the government's 85 percent increase for the National Human Rights Commission's budget in 2008/2009, OHCHR has stressed the need to respond promptly to the commission's recommendations. “The government must also ensure that other rights-focused national institutions have the requisite support to become independent, credible and effective, with adequate funding, financial autonomy and a clear legal basis.”OHCHR has welcomed the commitment to establish a credible transitional justice mechanism and urged the government to move swiftly to probe and prosecute the perpetrators of serious human rights violations, and to cooperate with ongoing investigations.“This will require strong and independent rule of law institutions, including a police force, prosecutors, and a judiciary free from political interference,” the report says.It has sought concerted efforts to ensure that the voices of marginalised groups, including women, Janajatis and Dalits, are effectively heard, in particular in the context of the constitution-drafting process. Unless these concerns are addressed, there is a risk of deepening social divisions, which could lead to further violence, according to the report.

CA chair asks not to deepen integration row
Nepal, March 6 : Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subash Nembang on Friday urged not to intensify the army integration row. The CA chairman said that integration process will not affect the constitution-drafting process as the final decision on army integration process will be taken by Army Integration Special Committee (AISC) though it is controversial. Speaking at a press meet organised in Dhankuta district today, Nemwang stressed on the need to be serious towards the implementation of newly introduced ordinances instead of fighting over it. Responding to a journalist's query that CA members, who have gone to collect public opinion, have been advocating their party agendas, Nembang asked the CA members to remain neutral while collecting people's view.He went on to say that the parties should not be lost in their vested interest at a time when the people have received the opportunity to write their own constitution. On the occasion, Dhankuta chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) submitted a memorandum to Nemwang, demanding that the to-be drafted constitution should clearly mention the press freedom and journalists' security.

PM failed to keep his word even for a day: Koirala

Nepali Congress (NC) President Girija Prasad Koirala has asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to implement past commitments and agreements if the latter wanted good relations with the main opposition and warned that the country could see a grave accident if the commitments were not implemented. Koirala was speaking at the inauguration of the sixth general convention of Nepal Teachers´ Association in Kathmandu, Wednesday. He alleged that Dahal could not keep his word even for a day. "PM Dahal had yesterday [Tuesday] promised he would not allow any recruitment in the People´s Liberation Army (PLA). But, immediately after that the PLA commander said he would go ahead with recruitment," he said. He said the recruitment will violate the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He also said the upcoming Free Students’ Union elections and by-elections for of the Constituent Assembly will serve as another test of prime minister’s commitment to democracy. "The polls will show what kind of democracy the prime minister wants," he said.

Statute must reflect public aspiration: Dr Yadav

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Thursday said the constitution reflecting the aspirations and expectations of the public can only maintain lasting peace in the country.Speaking at the inaugural of national convention of the lawyers in the capital, President Yadav stressed on the timely drafting of the new constitution.He said the new constitution will not be durable if all the Nepali citizens could not feel intimacy with it.Saying that Nepali can exist only with the existence of Nepal, he urged the public to be united in order to preserve national integration and sovereignty.He added that the new constitution should comprise rule of law and assure press freedom.Over two thousands experts and representatives from within and abroad are attending the three-day convention. Bar Association General Secretary Raman Singh Shrestha informed that some 80 reports will be presented at the convention.The interaction programme is slated for tomorrow at Pragya Pratisthan in Kamaladi.Issuing a Kathmandu Declaration Report, the convention will wrap up on Saturday.The national convention of Bar Association is carried out on every three years.This time, the Bar Association has decided its slogan “Construction of democratic constitution, Nepal Bar’s campaign,” for the convention.

CA Team Led by MK Nepal Faces Tharus' Wrath

Tharu activists gheraoed a CA team led by Madhav Kumar Nepal that arrived in Dhangadhi on Tuesday to collect public opinions on new constitution. They also disrupted an all-party all-side meeting called by the team in DDC hall.The Tharu activists started shouting slogans against the government for enlisting Tharus as Madhesis as the meeting was progressing. The Tharu Welfare Council has imposed a three-day Tharuhat bandh since yesterday to protest the government decision.Kailali chapter president of Tharu Welfare Council Bhanuram Chaudhary said their agitation would continue till the government removes Tharus from the list of Madhesis.The meeting was shortened after the Tharu activists started shouting slogans. The CA members, including Nepal, hurriedly came out of the hall when the Tharu activists tried to lock them inside the hall.The Tharu activists had initially asked Tharu CA members of the team -- Krishna Chaudhary and Birman Chaudhary -- to boycott the meeting. The duo had joined the meeting after assuring the protesters of addressing their demands.CA member Bhim Rawal said the team had expected to receive some suggestions at the end of the meeting, but that could not happen due to the protest. The team has been assigned to collect opinions from Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura.The team has also been facing problems due to the strike of students in both the districts, who have been demanding establishment of a university in the far-west.

UNMIN says PLA recruitment is against peace accord
United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has said the fresh recruitment drive of the Maoist affiliated People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).Kosmos Bishwokarma, senior communication officer of UNMIN informed the recruitments in both the PLA and Nepal Army are against the peace accord.UMMIN has been monitoring the peace process in Nepal.

Govt to consult before preparing Madhesi list
The meeting of the council of ministers held Wednesday morning at Singha Durbar has decided to prepare the list of Madhesis after consultation with concerned organisations.According to government spokesperson and Information and Communication Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the government had not taken any such decision as reported. Indicating at the protests programmes launched by Tharus and other ethnic groups in eastern Terai, Mahara said government will hold consultation with Tharus and other ethnic communities before finalising the list of Madhesi groups.Tharus and 20 other ethnic groups, with support from National Federation of the Indigenous Nationalities, started protests after government reportedly included them under Madhesi list while securing reservation quota for various ethnic groups.The cabinet, addressing the continued strike and demonstrations by people in the western region in the last few days, has also decided to proceed with the establishment of Far West University. Mahara said the cabinet meeting also discussed the proposal for establishment of other universities.Additionally, the government spokesperson said two new policies were presented at the cabinet today – tourism policy and industrial policy. He said the cabinet approved regulations on Nepal Trust and Arrears Adjustment Committee.However, the cabinet did not discussed much debated recruitment row in People’s Liberation Army, which has drawn widespread criticism. nepalnews.com ia Mar 04 09.

Tarai life continues to cripple
Normal life in several Tarai districts continued to cripple due to the strike called by Tharu Welfare Council (TWC) on Wednesday.Vehicles have not been able to ply the road as the agitating protestors switched to vandalism and arson in the districts.Transportation, market area, academic institutions and industries have been completely shut down in several Tarai districts including Saptari, Siraha, Sunsari, Rauthat, Sarlahi, Chitwan, Kapilvastu, Bardiya, Dang and Banke. The agitators have been demonstrating at the major thoroughfares of the East-West Highway.The entire industries along the Sunsari-Morang Industrial corridor have been shut down today as well.Meanwhile, the public opinion collection for the new constitution that was set to be conducted at a dozen VDC’s in Sunsari district has been put off today.The TWC and the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) have announced a three-day general shutdown in Tarai districts protesting against the categorisation of many indigenous communities of Tarai as Madheshis. The government, however, has been saying that it has not catergorised Tharu and other indigenous communities as Madhesis.

Govt to establish Far-Western Regional University
The government on Wednesday decided to establish a Far-Western Regional University in the country.Cabinet meeting held this morning at Singha Durbar decided to establish the University, keeping in mind the demands of general people of the region, Government's spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara informed.However, the location for the University has not been decided yet.The students have been protesting in the Far Western region since few days demanding the establishment of University.Likewise, the government also decided to provide special consideration for the students regarding the purchase of petroleum products.The meeting also ratified the proposal concerning relief for students in petroleum products by Minister for Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato.Meanwhile, the responsibility for the implementation of the proposal has been given to the financial committee of the council of ministers.The students will be getting concession based on their identity card.Minister Mahato also informed that the relief cards will be distributed very soon.Likewise, the meeting also decided to define Madhesis following discussions with the Tharu communities.

NC turns down PM's call to join govt
The main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) turned down the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s call for joining the Maoist-led coalition government on Tuesday.Earlier today, PM Dahal had requested NC President Girija Prasad Koirala to be a part of the coalition government for timely drafting of the new constitution and taking the peace process to a logical end during a meeting held at latter’s residence in Maharajgunj.The NC president, in response to Daha’s call, said his party will support the government in drafting a new democratic constitution staying in the opposition bench, NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel said.Speaking at a press meet organised at NC parliamentary party office today, Poudel informed that PM Dahal had agreed to carry out the by-election for the Constituent Assembly and Free Student Union (FSU) election peacefully during his meeting with Koirala.According to Poudel, PM had said that his party had not discussed fresh recruitment in the Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA).He said PM also assured Koirala to follow the directives of Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), which was formed to look after the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants, regarding fresh recruitment in the Nepal Army.