In this photo taken January 31, 2009, Nepal's sacked army chief Rookmangud Katawal walks past soldiers during Basant Panchami festival in Kathmandu. (AP)
There's crisis brewing between Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda and army chief. The Maoist-led government has sacked army chief General Rookmangud Katawal.
But Katawal has reportedly refused to accept his sacking order, calling it unconstitutional. After the government decided to replace him with loyalist General Kul Bahadur Khadka, the Nepal Army has called on an emergency meeting of the generals at the army headquarters. Sixty one -year-old Katawal, who is being sacked just three months before he is due to retire, is expected to move the Supreme Court.
The Maoists' move comes a fortnight after they served an ultimatum to General Katawal, seeking his clarification on recruitments by military, reinstatement of 8 retired generals, and its decision not to participate in the National Games.
PTI adds: Ending days of speculation, Nepal's Maoists-led government on Sunday fired Army Chief General Rukmanga Katawal, replacing him with loyalist General Kul Bahadur Khadka.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Prachanda's Press Adviser Om Sharma despite domestic and international calls against such a move, including from India.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prachanda, which decided to sack the Army Chief, was, however, boycotted by four other ruling alliance partners - CPN-UML, Madhesi People's Rights' Forum, Sadbhavana Party and CPN-United.
However, the decision has to be formally endorsed by President Ram Baran Yadav.
Main opposition Nepali Congress and 16 others political parties have been opposing the Maoists' plans to sack the army chief.
The Maoists' move came a fortnight after they served an ultimatum to Gen Katawal, seeking his clarification on recruitments by military, its "hastiness" in reinstating
eight generals retired by the government and its decision not to participate in the National Games.
He had furnished his reply contending that he had not disobeyed the government's directives on removing eight generals and halting recruitment in the military.