Kathmandu, March 20:

Human rights activist Subodh Pyakurel today accused the parties of fielding Dalit candidates for the constituent assembly polls to be held under the Proportional Representation (PR) election just because fielding the Dalits was made a mandatory provision.

“There are hardly any Dalits to contest the polls to be held under the first-past-the-post system. This proves that they really do not want Dalits’ representation,” he said at a function organised by the Dalit NGO Federation to mark the 43rd International Day of Elimination of the Racial Discrimination.

He urged the government to provide “respectful reservation” to the underprivileged people. “The Dalits will be liberated only when the non-Dalits are included in their struggle”, he added.

Anjana Bisankhe of the Jana Morcha Nepal said, “Revolutionary land reform is a must for the liberation of the Dalits.”

“Though many Dalits have been involved in the movements of all political parties, they have not been liberated”, said Bhakta Biswokarma, chairman of the National Dalit Welfare Association Nepal, accusing the parties of lacking the will to liberate the Dalits.

Ramlal Biswokarma, president of the National Dalit Commission, said the CA polls will address demands of the Dalits. He accused the parties of trying to scuttle the CA polls.

“The parties excluded the Dalits from the first-past-the-post system of polls, but they should give more opportunities to the Dalits in the PR system of polls so as to ensure their representation in the CA,” said Durga Sob, chairperson of the Feminist Dalit Organisation.