IMHO, it appears that Katuwal always has had a political ambition. Clearly, he has seen from very close many greedy and power hungry politicians as someone who was directly connected to the Palace. It must be difficult for him to adjust to the new situation after the regimentation of all his life in the Royal Nepal Army and in the Narayanhity. Do not be swayed by his clever political lines eventhough most of his remarks may sound refreshing in the current political context. In most cases, he talks more like a politician rather than a straight shooter armyman. In the situation where a great majority holding a post in the government seems to be either corrupt and/or incompetent or lazy in doing the work for which he/she draws salary from the treasury, Katuwal's cleverly scripted comments are heart touching particularly when it comes to the issue of nationalism. Remember it is the Palace, sycophants with the willing connivance of the Royal Nepal Army that actually blurred the nationalism and patriotism by putting the King, as Vishnu awatar, and the royal family over everything.

Granted, Katuwal is absolutely right in many points when he raises pointing fingers towards the Maoists and other left parties of being off the track from the people's interest and about the killing during the conflict period. However, he fails to pin point the misrule and misdeeds of other parties though. Katuwal himself  has his hands full of blood from the killing of many innocent Nepali janata. He could potentially be tried in a public court for all the atrocities and murder committed while he was in the army. The Nepali people will never forget the brutal murder of the innocent people the Army committed in many places like in DORAMBA and NAGARKOT while Katuwal was at the helm of power in the Royal Nepal Army.  In the eyes of many Nepalis, the Nepal Army is more like a club of a few privileged people.  He will be more grateful to the Shah Kings than to the Nepali people who actually paid his salary and benefits. His talk of being a democratic system is nothing but a hogwash given his record in the army. Does he realize how lower ranking soldiers are treated in the Army? They are made to wash the petticoats of an officer's wife, even to this day. They are made to go to construct the house of an officer and work there as a free labourer. Is this the dignity of the soldiers he was talking about? Where is the money that a soldier earned in a Peace Keeping Mission? Kudos to Bhushan Dahal for the interview, but I wished he had asked more probing questions about the running of the Army. Katuwal rightly says that we are a tiny country, and, therefore, I add to it that there is NO reason to have a large army. What about the human right violation and corruption in the army? Is he not responsbile for any of it?

IMO, the biggest challenge the Nepal Army is facing today is not the handling of the political masters but turning the Nepal Army from its mentality of being the King's Chowkidar Brigade to the nation's respectable defence force with its due dignity and owing allegiance with hearts and minds to the people's sovereignty.
Of course, in a democracy, retired General Katuwal is most welcome to participate in politics or any other nation building activities as a citizen.
Jai Nepal.