UML against moulding country into 'ethnic confederation'

KATHMANDU: Vice-chairperson of CPN-UML Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said that the UML was not in favor of making the country as an ethnic confederation in the name of state restructuring. She said that the state will not have its own ethnicity.

Speaking at a program in the capital on Saturday, Bhandari accused the UCPN Maoist of attempting to establish the federal states that were 'distributed' during the decade-long insurgency by the Maoist party.

"Our party is not in favor of ethnicity–based federalism. We have to fight against discrimination and poverty by safeguarding ourselves from elements that raise the slogans of ethnicity and regionalism," she added.

On the occasion, leaders of Dalit community stressed for ensuring rights to dalit in the new constitution and demanded action against the party cadres promoting untouchability and discrimination.

UML politburo member Chhabilal Bishowkarma, alternative central committee member Rameshwor Phyual, Jitu Gautam, general secretary of Darjee Samaj Mahesh Bishowkarma and others expressed their opinions.