A large number of people from adjoining districts had turned up in Pokhara to stage demonstrations against ethnic-based federal states. People affiliated to various six organizations of Bramhin, Chhetris, Dasnamis, Thakuris, Dalits and marginalized groups participated in the demonstrations. [break]They had taken out a rally from Chipledhunga that later converged into a mass gathering at Amar Singh Chowk.
Addressing the gathering, the leaders of the groups said federal states should be drawn not on the basis of ethnicity, language or religion, but on the basis of geographical proximity, administrative accessibility, availability of natural resources and economic viability. They also argued for north-south division of states named after hills, rivers or lakes.
Among others, the leaders also demanded that Brahmins, Chhetris, Thakuris and Dashnamis who have been categorized as “others groups” in interim constitution, should be enlisted as indigenous nationalities. “We won´t accept ethnic-based federal state even at the cost of our life,” said General Secretary of Chhetri Samaj Kumar Khadka.
Nepal will be divided into 101 parts if federal states are formed on the basis of ethnicity. He argued that 83 percent of the people would take to the streets if Gurungs with 17 percent, Sherpas with 20 percent and Tharus with 22 percent populations are given separate states.
Addressing the rally, Hari Kumar Malla, senior Vice president of Thakuri Samaj said they would continue their protests until their demands are met.
Central President of Brahmin Samaj Narayan Prasad Adhikari said no one has the right to disintegrate the country. “Once we are divided, the country will head towards disintegration,” he said.
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