Kathmandu, November 4:

With a view to guaranteeing the rights of some five million Dalits across the country in the new constitution, Dalit Constituent Assembly members have recently formed a political forum.

The forum will include all 50 Dalit Constituent Assembly members representing the five major political parties.

“We have formed the forum to highlight the problems of our communities,” said a member of the forum, Tilak Pariyar. A five-member task force has also been formed to devise the policies, programmes and code of conduct for the members, he said. The task force includes Shambhu Hajara Paswan of the NC, Dal Bahadur Sunar of the UML, Tilak Pariyar of the CPN-Maoist, Biswo Bhakta Dulal (Aahuti) of the People’s Front Nepal and Kalawati Paswan of the MJF.

Pariyar said their sole objective was to ensure the Dalits’ rights in the new constitution. The forum would also resolve all differences among the members and find common agenda for the cause of Dalits, he said.