Former President Ram Baran Yadav has remarked that his refusal to support the Pushpa Kamal Dahal led government’s move to sack the then Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal saved the Nepal Army from being ruined.

“If was not the head of state, the Nepal Army would have been demolished,” said Yadav, during release of former Chief of Army Staff Chhatraman Singh’s biography, “Janata Ko Choro,” at a hotel in the Capital on Sunday. He said it was tough time of his presidential tenure as there were two armies in the country.  

“The former rebel Maoists party were brought to the democratic mainstream. Then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa came from underground armed revolt.  I still think I took the right decision then. Everyone except for the Maoists supported my decision,” said Yadav.

Yadav had reinstated the then Army Chief Katawal, who was sacked by Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led Cabinet in May 2009.

Saying that he was accused of trying to wield authority as the head of government, Yadav said, “I was fortunate to hold the post for seven years and during my tenure I always tried to unite all the political parties during my tenure.”