Kathmandu, August 4

Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has urged the stakeholders to advance the voices of the indigenous and nationalities for intellectual debate and parliamentary deliberations.

Addressing the Indigenous and Nationalities Grand National Political Conference here today, Mahara said, “I especially request concerned stakeholders to raise issues like rights, representation, autonomy and federalism with identity for intellectual debate in a way to make them the agendas of the Parliament.”

He further urged to seek resolution from the policy level for more rights by safeguarding the achievements made so far.

The constitution can be amended if the people deem it necessary, Mahara said.

Speaker Mahara assured that he would make his best efforts to guarantee the rights of indigenous communities in the law.

According to Mahara’s press adviser Dilli Malla, Speaker Mahara said that the movement of the indigenous and nationalities groups should bring the members of suppressed and marginalised class and castes to the mainstream of the state.

During the programme, chief whip of Nepal Communist Party Dev Gurung, Nepali Congress leader Jip Tshering Lama, leader of Federal Socialist Forum -Nepal Rajendra Shrestha and others expressed their opinions on the issue. Representatives from across the country are attending the two-day political conference.