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The prime minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has resigned from his office following a row over the sacking of the army chief. While announcing his resignation on Monday (May 4), Prachanda blamed country's political parties and foreign powers for hampering his government. Yesterday the Nepalese premier fired army chief General Katawal for disobeying government's orders. Katawal reinstated eight Generals who were declared retired by the Maoist administration.
PM Prachanda was not in favour of inducting former Maoist rebels in the army and hence the Nepali government led by the UCPN-M decided to sack army chief Rookmangud Katawal. The move triggered widespread protests with two of the government's allies, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Sadbhavana Party deciding to quit. The issue of sacking intensified further when president Ram Baran Yadav asked the army chief to continue his office.
According to the Nepalese president, the dismissal of army chief is unconstitutional and illegal. The controversy rose because the UCPN-M sacked Rookmangud Katawal without prior discussion. The UCPN-M emerged as the single largest party in April 2008 election in Nepal and enjoyed the credit of leading the coalition government in the country.
