NC‚ UML wings oppose ethno-based federalism

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Students and youth leaders of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML today opposed the government decision to grant ethnicity based federal states. They also demanded that the government promulgate the new constitution within four days.

Students, youths, women and dalits from different organisations organised a huge goodwill rally from Maitighar to New Baneshwor in a show of strength for social harmony and cautioned the government that constituting federal states based on ethnicity could be a sure-shot recipe for national disintegration.

Ranjit Karna, president, Nepal Students Union (NSU), student wing of Nepali Congress said ethnicity based states would lead to national disintegration, so it should not be allowed. Criticising UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s statement, he said, “Prachanda’s statement reeked of secession,” adding, “He provoked the poor people to go for ethnicity based federal states which would never be successful.”

Madhav Dhungel, president, All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) aligned to CPN-UML said ethnicity based federal states was not the demand of the people.

He said, “It was the demand of a few people whom Dahal had instigated and that all patriotic Nepalis wanted an undivided, peaceful and prosperous Nepal.”

Mahesh Basnet, president, Youth Association of Nepal (YAN) aligned to CPN-UML said that the country was disintegrating and weakening day by day due to Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai.

“Prachanda will be alone one day if he keeps on pledging to each and every organisation whatever they want,” he added.

Dr Dila Sangraula, president, Nepal Women Association aligned to NC said that extending the tenure of the Constituent Assembly was wrong. She alleged that the government was being insensitive to the development and prosperity of the people. “The current decision goes against the spirit of Loktantra and will do no good for the country,” she said.

Ranju Thakur, central committee member, All Nepal Women’s Association aligned to CPN-UML said that if the political parties and the government really wanted to develop Nepal, they could do it even by creating seven federal states. She said, “If political parties were asked to prepare an act for their own facilities and services, they would have prepared it overnight but when it comes to the people’s rights, they are never serious.”

Likewise, Jeevan Pariyar, president of Dalit Association Nepal said that ethnicity based federalism would disintegrate the nation. He said, “We are around six million dalits in the country but we have never asked for a separate dalit state.”