A new recruitment drive unleashed by Nepal Army (NA) has created new ripples in the country’s political waters.
In fact, it has made the gulf between the Maoists and other parties more caverrnous.
The Maoists have also launched training campaign to set the ground for possible “people’s revolt” considering the post May 28 (the deadline for the promulgation of a new constitution) scenario.
The army has said that it would go ahead with task of fulfilling its 10,000 vacant posts gradually.
The army had already proceeded with recruitment for four times earlier despite stiff opposition from the Maoists.
The debacle of the then Maoist-led government was also the outcome of a discord between the army and the Maoists over recruitment.
The army and the government has been maintaining over the period that that the recruitment drive does not infringe upon the peace agreement as it is meant for fulfilling only the vacant posts.
The peace agreement clearly mentions that both the government and the Maoists should avert themselves from going for new recruitments.
A writ has also been filed against the NA’s fresh bid to induct new personnel in vacant posts. The writ has termed the recruitment as something that trampled upon the peace agreement as well as the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive.
Earlier, the SC had given an interim order not to launch new recruitment until it gave final verdict on the case.
As such, the validity of the NA’s latest move is questionable.
The Maoist stalwarts have been airing warnings that they would take political and legal move against the recruitment.
This time, the former rebels are spitting venom solely at the government over recruitment. They have resisted from using derogatory remarks against the NA like in the past.
“It is an ill-intended move on the part of the government to pit the Maoist and the army against each other,” Maoist leader Barsa Man Pun said.
The Maoists’ nationwide physical training campaign has triggered suspicion if the country is heading towards the vortex of a renewed conflict.
They are imparting training to students, teachers and general people stating that it is mandatory to face the consequences of the post May 28 situation.
According to the Maoists, the failure to draft a new stature by May 28 will give birth to presidential rule in the country.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav himself has already ruled out such allegation.
However, what should not be overlooked that it was he who gave a thumbs down to the popularly elected Maoist-led government’s proposal to sack the former army chief a year back.
It is not a blurred fact that the president’s advisors are also talking about the possibility of the direct rule of Dr Yadav if the CA fails to produce a new stature on time.
As the major political parties are indulging themselves in shielding their own parochial interests, the situation is becoming increasingly alarming and uncertain
The way the parties are ridiculing the urgency of a broader consensus indicates that they are now preparing themselves for a renewed conflict.