The Ministry of Defence yesterday sought clarification from Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal, accusing him of defying a series of government orders. General Katawal has been given a 24-hour ultimatum to defend charges related to recruitment of 3010 soldiers, reinstatement of the eight retired brigadier generals without coordinating with the ministry and boycotting the National Games.

The government move, “backed by Sunday's Cabinet,” heightened political and diplomatic efforts to defuse the tension that could cast a dark spell on the country's peace process.

India dispatched a high-profile official yesterday afternoon to avert the imminent crisis, according to a highly placed source in New Delhi. “Delhi has taken an unequivocal position that the Maoists should withdraw this decision.”

Earlier, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood met with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and expressed “concern over the government's decision.”

The Legislature-Parliament session scheduled for Monday failed to proceed with regular business once again when the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) boycotted the session protesting the “premeditated attack” on Nepal Army (NA) and the independent judiciary. 

Prime Minister Dahal himself met with President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and briefed the Army's Supreme Commander on the government decision, only to be cautioned against “any unnecessary intervention”.

“The government will take a decision on the basis of discussion and consensus with other political parties,” Dahal told reporters of his meeting with the president. 

 President Yadav reportedly told Dahal to consult the Interim Constitution and forge political consensus before taking the decision. 

“Unnecessary intervention in the Army will upset the national priorities and derail the peace process,” the president's press advisor Rajendra Dahal quoted Yadav as telling the prime minister. The president drew Dahal's attention to the Interim Constitution (Article 144 and its amendments), which deals with provisions regarding Nepal Army.  The president also stressed that the prime minister should focus on high priority issues - peace process, drafting of the new constitution and management of Maoist combatants.

Late Monday evening, General Katawal also called on President Yadav to brief him on the development.

The government has asked Katawal to clarify why he defied the government order to stop recruitment in the Army, reinstated the eight generals on the basis of the interim stay order of the Supreme Court without coordinating with the Defence Ministry and ordered the Army to boycott the Fifth National Games.

“During a meeting on Sunday, the prime minister had asked the Army Chief to step down so that confrontation between the government and the Army could end,” said a prime minister's aide. “Though the prime minister offered him an ambassadorial or security advisor position, Katawal rejected the offer.”

NA spokesperson Brigadier Ramindra Chhetri said the Army Chief will respond to the government's letter on Tuesday. On Monday evening, General Katawal held an informal meeting with top Army officials at the Army Headquarters to discuss how he should  respond to the government.