Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Army Headquarters has clarified that there is no controversy regarding the age of Lieutenant General Ashok Raj Sigdel, who is preparing to take command of the Nepalese Army in a month.
The army provided clarification about its future leader’s citizenship by organizing a press conference after “misleading” news began to appear in various media outlets regarding Sigdel’s date of birth.
Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC clarified that Sigdel’s date of birth had been scrutinized during his promotion to Lieutenant General and afterward, confirming that there were no discrepancies in his citizenship.
Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma had previously clarified to the State Affairs Committee of the Parliament that there was no dispute regarding Sigdel’s date of birth.
The tenure of Chief of Army Staff Sharma ends on September 9. He will go on home leave from August 9. After he goes on leave, Lieutenant General Sigdel will take over as the Acting Chief of Army Staff.
Promotion disputes are not new in the army. However, one group was preparing to make a Nepal Army General, considered close to the Maoists, the next chief of the army by bringing Sigdel into controversy.
Attempts had been made to drag Sigdel into controversy since his promotion to Lieutenant General. Before his promotion, Major General Taradhwaj Pandey had been recommended for promotion to Lieutenant General. Pandey had a citizenship controversy. He had resigned not due to forgery accusations but for seriously damaging the army’s discipline. Sigdel was promoted after Pandey’s resignation.
In the press meet, Spokesperson KC showed copies of Sigdel’s citizenship and academic certificates and clarified that there were no discrepancies in his date of birth.
Sigdel is known as an excellent military officer with a calm but strict demeanor. He was a topper in his batch when entering the army as a military officer. He has consistently ranked first in training and academic work both within and outside Nepal.
He understands India, China, and the US well as he has studied and trained in all three countries. Sigdel also ranked first in the Higher Command and Management training necessary to become the Chief of Army Staff.
