This article was published on Telegraph Nepal on January 30, 2010
Prachanda & Girija bargaining Militia-Nepal Army Integration: Shekher Koirala
Dr. Shekhar Koirala- a medical practitioner by profession and a nephew of Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala said at a program held in Biratnagar, Morang District that his uncle Girija Babu and Maoists’ Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal were currently involved in a bargain concerning the Army-Militia Integration. “Girija babu and Prachanda ji are currently involved in a bargain to integrate the Maoists’ Peoples’ Liberation Army in the Nepal Army.” “I hope that they will come to an amicable solution”, said Dr. Koirala adding, “Prachanda ji is maintaining that at least 6 thousand of his Militias should be integrated into the Nepal Army.”
However Dr. Shekhar did not disclose what were those benefits that will come to the fold of Girija babu if he agrees to accept Prachanda’s demands? Prime Ministerial post for himself or to his beloved daughter Sujata Koirala?
Dr. Koirala also revealed that Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal have been maintaining that no more than five thousand PLA men could be integrated into the Army. Koirala also told journalists in Biratnagar that the integration process should end prior to the drafting of the constitution.