President of agitating Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Raj Kumar Lekhi Wednesday warned of further protests if the demands of indigenous nationalities were not met.

Accusing the government of turning a deaf ear to their demands, Lekhi said they would not withdraw programmmes of protest until the government agreed to address the issues they have been raising.

Speaking at an interaction in Kathmandu, he also accused the major parties of defaming indigenous community by spreading the rumour that janajatis were demanding separate ethnic state.

Lekhi also said that the President, Prime Minister, speaker and top leaders of major parties were responsible for the current political mess.

Indigenous Nationalities Joint Struggle Committee, an alliance of various indigenous organisations including NEFIN, organised three-day Nepal bandh (shutdown strike) demanding identity/ethnicity-based federalism, which concluded today. nepalnews.com