Koirala flays Maoists for entering Parliament with arms

Kathmandu, Sept 26: Nepal's former Prime Minister

Girija Prasad Koirala on Friday expressed serious concern over

Maoist cadres carrying weapons inside the Parliament.

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 ...

over the issue of the CPN-Maoist cadres carrying arms inside

the Parliament.

"The Parliament authorities should not allow the

Maoists to enter the House carrying weapons," Koirala said.

The former premier 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.

Some CPN-Maoist members, including bodyguards of Maoist

lawmaker Barshaman Pun, were caught by the parliament security

personnel while they were entering the House.

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 tomorrow.

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 former guerrillas, who recently formed the

government in the country under the leadership of Prime

Minister Prachanda, have also been flayed by the opposition

parties for allowing their cadres to indulge in violence and

intimidation in several parts of the country.