Nepal Army recruits over 2,500 new soldiers
Despite facing stiff opposition from the Maoist Defence Minister, Nepal's Army has announced recruitment of over 2,500 soldiers to the vacant posts.
Despite facing stiff opposition from the Maoist Defence Minister, Nepal's Army has announced recruitment of over 2,500 soldiers to the vacant posts.
"The selection process of the vacant posts has already been completed and they (selected personnels) will join the job within a month," Army spokesman Ramindra Chhetri told PTI.
Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa "Badal" had ordered the Army chief to halt the recruitment process claiming that it would violate the Comprehensive Peace Accord the Maoists signed with the previous government.
Thapa warned army that action would be taken against it if the orders were not followed.
However, when contacted, Defence Ministry spokesman Shridhar Prasad Pokharel claimed ignorance over the issue.
Chhetri, meanwhile, said they have not created new posts and only filled the vacancies.
As per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, both the Nepal Army and the Maoists' People's Liberation Army cannot recruit new personnel after the peace process started.
The army's move has posed a new challenge to the Maoist led government, which is already in trouble due to differences among the ruling parties over key issues.
Many parties including ruling alliances CPN-UML, Madhesi People's Rights Forum and Sadbhavana Party and opposition Nepali Congress have backed the army saying the regular process of recruitment should not be obstructed.