Deal on federalism stirs hornet's nest

TIKA R PRADHAN

KATHMANDU: Various pressure groups have take exception to the agreement between major political forces on federalism as it bypassed the regular procedure of the Constituent Assembly, the sole body with authority to draft the constitution.

The parties, conspiring to trigger violence in society, have not only ignored reports prepared by thematic committees, state restructuring panel of the CA and the high-level state restructuring commission, but also disrespected popular vote, alleged the Mohan Baidhya faction of the UCPN-Maoist

Leaders Baidhya and Ram Bahadur Thapa said they oppose the decision taken by the parties on the restructuring of the state and the forms of governance. The faction led by UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai took decisions on key issues of the constitution, unilaterally, they held.

The leaders have announced a four-day-long mass demonstration throu-ghout the nation in protest of the agreement. The duo has expressed solidarity with the movements of the Indigenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee (INJSC) and People’s Movement Joint Committee –– led by party secretary C P Gajurel –– and the Broad Madhesi Front.

Issuing a separate statement INJSC secretariat coordinator Parshuram Tamang stated today’s pact was part of ploy against identity-bas-ed federalism. Tamang further said that the agreement was an infringement on the rights of the sovereign CA.

Similarly, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) has decided to continue with their struggle, including a three-day strike from May 20-22.

NEFIN has claimed that today’s agreement dashed all hopes raised by the 12-point agreement between then seven party alliance and the CPN-Maoist.

Info centre set up

KATHMANDU: A meeting of journalists of ethnic indigenous nationalities held at the office of the Association of Nepali Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (ANIJ) has decided to establish an information centre to collect and disseminate information regarding the movements of indigenous nationa-

lities. Baneshwor-based ANIJ’s office has been named focal point of the centre. ANIJ said four journalists would be stationed at the office from 6 am to 10 pm to collect and disseminate information.