Indigenous leaders agree to accept federalism based on multiple identities to ensure constitution

Adibasi-Janajati caucus of the Constituent Assembly (CA) have agreed to accept multiple-identity based federalism in the new constitution, increasing the chances of promulgation of the constitution further.

The powerful caucus comprising Janjati (indigenous nationalities) leaders from various political parties, who were demanding single-identity based federal states until now, agreed on federalism based on multiple identities following talks with major political parties in Baluwatar earlier today.

Prithivi Subba Gurung (File photo)

Emerging from the meeting in Baluwatar, UML leader Prithivi Subba Gurung said although the Janjatis want naming of the federal state based on single-identity, but they are willing to show flexibility on the issue by accepting federalism based on multiple identities so as to ensure the new constitution (like naming Newa State as Newa-Bagmati and Tamuwan state as Tamuwan-Gandak).

Gurung was accompanied by top Janjati leaders including Maoist lawmaker Lokendra Bista Magar and lawmakers Indra Bahadur Gurung, Kiran and Jip Tshering Lama, among others. Nepalnews.com