Kathmandu, April 27

Federal Alliance today submitted a 26-point memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli through chief district officers.

A group of Federal Alliance leaders accompanied by some central leaders went to Kathmandu District Administration to submit the memorandum.

The alliance said identity-based federalism could only resolve the current political problems and implementation of past pacts signed with various stakeholders could alone ensure identity-based federalism.

Manish Kumar Suman, General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party, a constituent of the alliance, said the alliance   submitted memorandums to almost all the CDOs today.

The alliance stated in the memorandum that the new constitution was promulgated on the basis of numerical strength and the use of coercive power of whip by the political parties violated the mandate of the past movements of indigenous nationalities, Madhesis, Khas, Dalits, Muslims, OBCs and minority communities.

The alliance said the new constitution rejected the values established by Interim Constitution and agreements reached in the first Constituent Assembly. The new constitution, instead of institutionalising revolutionary changes federalism, autonomy, proportional inclusion and secularism  has, in fact, reversed them,” the alliance stated in its memorandum.

The alliance has demanded identity-based federalism on the lines of the report prepared by erstwhile State Restructuring Commission and first CA’s thematic committee that guarantees two provinces in the Tarai and Limbuwan, Kirat/Khambuwan, Sherpa, Tamsalilng, Newa, Tamuwan, Magarat, Tharuhat and Khasan in the hills.

It has also demanded that Khas group be enlisted as Adivasi people and autonomous areas, protected areas and special areas be declared to protect the interests of ethnic groups where they have lived for a long time.

The alliance has stated that more than one language should be used in all the government bodies, both at the centre and in provinces, in order to ensure multi-language policy.

The alliance also demanded guarantee of proportional inclusion in all the state organs, including judiciary and security agencies, and ethnic proportional inclusion should be guaranteed under the fundamental rights chapter of the constitution.

The alliance also demanded that indigenous nationalities’ right to self determination, autonomy, and right to natural resources should be guaranteed under the fundamental rights chapter of the constitution.

The alliance demanded the first-past-the-post seats on the basis of population and in the Upper House it has demanded representation on the basis of population besides guaranteeing one representation to each province.

It has demanded to ensure provisions relating to marital naturalisation in the constitution itself and not in any federal law.

The alliance also stated that Interim Constitution’s provisions should be retained to govern the process of nomination and election of the office bearers of constitutional bodies.

It demanded probe into alleged cases of rights violation during Madhes movement and compensation for the kin of those killed during protests.

The alliance demanded that the arrested leaders of the agitating forces should be immediately freed and false cases slapped against the cadres of the agitating forces withdrawn.

The alliance also demanded an end to black-marketing and shortage of commodities of daily use, besides urging the government to ensure good governance.

The alliance stated that the government should inform the public how much money it had received from the international community for reconstruction and rehabilitation and how much it had spent so far.

It also demanded waiver of interest rate and fines levied on the loans taken by the public during Madhes movement.