Row over Nepal Maoists carrying arms inside Parliament

 

Kathmandu (PTI): A row has erupted in Nepal over Maoists cadres carrying weapons inside the Parliament, with the House today being disrupted over the issue.

The Constituent Assembly, which is tasked to frame a new constitution for the country after its transformation from monarchy to republic, was adjourned after several members of the main Opposition Nepali Congress disrupted the proceeding over the issue of the CPN-Maoist cadres carrying arms inside the Parliament.

Nepal's former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Friday expressed serious concern over Maoists carrying weapons inside the House. "The Parliament authorities should not allow the Maoists to enter the House carrying weapons," he said.

Some CPN-Maoist members, including bodyguards of Maoist lawmaker Barshaman Pun, were caught with arms by the Parliament security personnel while they were entering the House. However, they were allowed to enter the building with weapons.

The incident, which was considered a major security breach, caused a pandemonium in the House today after which the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till Saturday.

Former premier Koirala also underlined the difficulties in merging the ultra-leftist Maoist cadres into the Nepal Army, warning that party interest should not be a consideration in the integration process.

Two major partners of the Maoist-led coalition government - CPN-UML and Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum (MPRF)- have also objected to the proposed integration of the PLA. Koirala also blamed the United Nations Mission in Nepal which is managing the arms and the former rebels in seven cantonments for not being alert to the incident.

The CPN-Maoist, which last month formed a coalition government under Premier Prachanda, has also been flayed by the opposition parties for allowing their cadres to indulge in violence and intimidation in several parts of the country.