KATHMANDU, MAY 13 -
The agitating Brahmin-Chhetri Samaj has given the government a three-day ultimatum to commit to a non-ethnic federal delineation of the states.
Calling off its banda on Saturday, the Samaj warned the government of sterner protests if their demands
are not addressed within the given timeline.
The group enforced a nationwide strike on Thursday and Friday, demanding that Brahmins and Chhetris be listed under the indigenous category, saying the decision of the State Restructuring Commission to group them under “others” category was a tactic to discriminate them.
Leaders of the struggle committee—comprising Chhetri Samaj, BrahminSamaj, Thakuri Samaj, Dasanami Samaj, Dalit Janajagaran Sewa Sangh, Bibedh Mukti Pragatishil Samaj, Khas Chhetri Ekta Samaj and Federation of Marginalised Group—said they would continue protests in districts by organising sit-ins at the political parties’ offices and handing over memoranda to social and political forces.
“We will also put moral pressure on political leaders belonging to Brahmin or Chhetri communities to express solidarity with our valid demands,” said Krishna Thapa, a leader of the struggle committee.
According to him, if the government fails to address their demands, the committee will come up with “sterner” demonstrations that could culminate in an indefinite general strike.
Earlier on Friday, during talks between the agitating group and the government, leaders of the struggle committee walked out of the talks after the government negotiators said nothing could be guaranteed as they were still discussing the contentious issues of constitution.
Following what it dubbed the government’s “irresponsible attitude”, thegroup had called for a one-day extension to the banda.
However, the banda called for Saturday was lifted at 9 am in view of theKirat community’s biggest Sakela festival.
“We have been advocating for religious and communal harmony and hampering celebrations of another group was not our intention,” said Thapa.
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