E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 17 - The UCPN (Maoist) and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) have agreed to initiate the process to recruit a small number of Madhesi youth to Nepal Army (NA) in the first phase as per a four-point deal signed between the two forces prior to the formation of the incumbent government.

Though the SLMM has been pressing for the recruitment of 10,000 Madhesi youth, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has told SLMM leaders that the process begins with the induction of "very few" youth.

PM's political advisor Devendra Poudel said Bhattarai will consult with SLMM leaders on Sunday about preparing a modality of recruitment and moving a proposal to the Cabinet. The government is mulling over reviving the 3,000 vacancies that were scrapped after the Janaandolan II for the process. "Among the 3,000 posts, a small number will be allocated to the Madhesi youth," said Poudel.  Including Tharus and other groups from the Tarai, the NA says, there are more than 6,200 Madhesis in the national army.

The SLMM, which had threatened to quit the coalition unless the deal was implemented at the earliest, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting. The Maoist-Madhesi alliance also agreed to bring a new inclusive bill and address the citizenship issue, among others.

Sadbhawana Party Chairman and Minister for Health and Population Rajendra Mahato said the meeting ended on a positive note with the prime minister assuring the implementation of the four-point deal at the earliest.

"We have decided to hold a preparatory meeting tomorrow [Sunday] and pass our demands through the Cabinet meeting on Monday," Mahato said. He added parties were mulling over recruiting 2,000 Madhesi youth and another 1,000 from Dalit and indigenous communities to the Army. "This is just a proposal floated during the meeting. No official position has been taken on it," Mahato said. He, however, clarified the Morcha would not object to such a proposal.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister Bhattarai, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Chairman of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur, TMLP-Nepal Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav and Sadbhawana Party Chairman Mahato attended the meeting.

Posted on: 2011-12-17 11:59

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