He said that the imperialists are promoting ethnic politics in Nepal as they want a situation similar to that in the USSR just before its dissolution.[break]
"Those who worked for dissolving the USSR want to separate Tibet from China," Gautam said at a public function organized by Pushpa Lal Memorial Academy in Kathmandu on Monday. He claimed that the same elements want to make Nepal instable by inciting ethnic conflict in the country. "Such a situation will be in their favor. But those involved in ethnic politics have not figured out the conspiracy of the imperialists."
The UML has said it can´t accept a federal model solely based on ethnic identities. But some influential UML leaders from ethnic communities including party Vice-chairman Ashok Rai have been boycotting party´s official meetings to show his strong objection to the party decision.
"Some ethnic communities have been fighting for their rights, which is acceptable," he said. But he was of the view that adoption of a federal model based solely on ethnic identity was unacceptable.
Another UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, however, said that lately the issue is in the process of being settled as some leaders campaigning for identity-based federalism have floated practical proposals.
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