Lalitpur, April 19:

Janajati leaders today said that they would not stop their movement unless the monarch becomes ready for an election to a constituent assembly.

“We won’t consider anything less than an election to a constituent assembly as the CPN UML has already decided and the seven-party alliance has also expressed its commitment to it,” said Prithvi Subba Gurung, chief of the CPN UML’s Janajati Department.

Gurung was addressing Loktantrik Cultural Mass Meet organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities at Nakhipot this afternoon. President of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Students (NEFINS) Chandra Bikram Rai said the ongoing movement was not to make anybody the Prime Minister or the President but to make the people sovereign.

“We will not stop our movement unless people receive the right to self -determination,” he said. “If we miss this golden opportunity we will be suppressed by the monarch for centuries,” Rai said. He also warned political leaders not to compromise “sitting in the dark room”.

Himaldhan Rai of CPN-ML said people should take action against “those who have looted their (people’s) property”. NEFIN general secretary Dr Om Gurung said the rights of the indigenous people should be established. Popular folk singers Badri Pangeni and Madhu Gurung staged the Loktantrik folk duets while the Indigenous Cultural Group staged people’s songs and dances during the programme.