The government has finally approached the crucial issue of army integration. Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara on Saturday said the cabinet meeting has finalised the Terms of Reference for the Army Integration Special Committee. The committee will prepare a report on how the PLA soldiers should be integrated into the Nepal Army. "But the cabinet will take final decision on it," Mahara said.

However, the integration process is stuck over who will lead the special committee. The Maoists are keen to head the committee but their keeness is not equally shared by the other parties. NC has been quite vocal against a Maoist leadership in the committee and has instead demanded that the head should be chosen on rotation basis among major parties other than the Maoists. NC, like before, has threatened that otherwise it will not participate in the committee.

NC president Girija Prasad Koirala launching what is called a 'national awareness campaign', opposing the idea of army integration. Terming the campaign as a movement to guard democratic republic and peace, Koirala warned Dahal not to act smart like the king did in the past.

UML however appears to be appeased after it was asked to head the committee. In a radio interview, UML leader Raghuji Pant suggested, "Our party is likely to head the committee but the decision is yet to be made."

As PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal started political consultations with leaders of different political parties after Dasain, he reached the residence of Madhav Kumar Nepal. Dahal reportedly requested him to head either the high level political coordination committee or the special committee for army integration. However, Nepal showed no interest to do so. He also rejected Dahal's suggestion to run in re-election from his constituency in Rolpa.

Dewan Rai