A day before Janajati (indigenous nationalities) leaders are scheduled for declaring a Janajati party, CPN (UML) leader Prithivi Subba Gurung said that Janajatis were left with no option but to form their own party as major political parties Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) turned a blind eye to the issues concerning the indigenous nationalities.

Addressing a programme organised by the National Indigenous Nationalities Women's Forum on Wednesday, the former minister said there was pressing need for a separate party of the indigenous nationalities to ensure their rights. He also accused NC and UML of not being serious enough to address the issues and concerns of indigenous nationalities.

Also speaking on the occasion, chairperson of the National Indigenous Nationalities Women's Federation Ngimi Sherpa said that indigenous nationalities should have their own party to ensure their rights. She further said that  the Federation had been working to ensure the rights of the women from indigenous community.

A national gathering of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) held in the first week of July had decided to form a new party on August 9.

CPN (UML) has already relieved Gurung and other senior Janajati leaders off crucial responsibilities inside the party to punish them for criticizing the party for its stand against identity-based federalism. nepalnews.com