Former Nepal Army chief Rukmangad Katawal,whose dismissal led to the collapse of Prachanda government last year,today said the national army would not keep quiet if Maoists try to capture power by force. "If there is bloodshed in the country,the army will not remain silent. If any one tried to slaughter the Nepalese people,the army would not remain a spectator," Katawal said. He said many people in Nepal believe that the new constitution would not be drafted within the stipulated time frame of May 28 and may lead to constitutional crisis in the country. Katawal also asked the former rebels to integrate and rehabilitate their combatants according to the Comprehensive Peace Accord,signed between the then government and the Maoists three years back. He said a referendum should be held to settle key issues including fate of monarchy,secular state and the structure of federalism. Katawal's remarks came at a time when Maoists have announced to launch intense agitation to topple the present government with a view to forming a Maoist-led coalition. They have also planned to gather hundreds of thousands of people in the street of Kathmandu on May 1 to give a final jolt to the CPN-UML led government.
