North-south model of federalism a must: GPK

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala today reiterated that a north-south model should be adopted while carving federal structure for the country.

"As Nepal is divided into three distinct geographical regions - the mountain, the hill and the tarai, federal states must be carved along north-south lines to keep the territorial and social integrity intact," said Koirala.

A team of international experts on federalism had met the NC president at his residence in Maharajgunj. Dr Roberta Watts led the three-member team of Network for Global Federations. Dr Suresh Chalise, foreign advisor of the NC president quoted Koirala as saying, "if the north-south model was not followed, the nation might disintegrate."

Koirala explained Nepal's diversified reality in terms of geography, ecology, economy and ethnicity. Mentioning the strategic location of Nepal in between India and China, "Only the north-south model can adjust those realities," Dr Chalise quoted Koirala as saying.