Kathmandu, February 25:

Speakers at a programme here today said the new constitution should ensure the rights of locals to natural resources in the federal states.

Arjun Narsingh KC, spokesperson, Nepali Congress (NC), said there had always been a struggle between democratic and non-democratic elements in the society and the democratic forces should meet their commitments to the general people.

Addressing an interaction organised by Unity for Progress Nepal, an NGO, he said the autonomous states should possess the right to natural resources within the state concerned. He said the NC was not in favour of states based on caste or ethnicity.

Jitendra Sonal, joint general secretary of Tarai Madhes democratic Party, said the TMDP had been struggling for the rights of the general people and that other parties were fighting only for their self-interests.

He added the concept of One Madhes One Pradesh was aimed at developing nationalism among the Tarai people.

Nepali Congress CA member Narayan Khadka said the state was discriminating against the people while using the natural resources in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Bhola Bhattarai, general secretary of the Federation of Community Forest Users of Nepal (FECOFUN), said the new constitution should guarantee the people’s right to natural resources.