Kathmandu, March 2:

Several ethnic and indigenous groups today organised

hour-long chhaka jam at Maitighar Mandala from 2pm to protest the government’s decision to enlist them under the Madhesi community.

Pasang Sherpa, president of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), said they will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, asking him to withdraw the decision.

He warned that NEFIN would launch strong protests if the government did not immediately revoke the decision. He said the enlistment of indigenous and ethnic groups under the Madhesi community had created an identity crisis among the ethnic people. He also argued that the government had undermined the ethnic people’s contribution to establishment of Loktantra in the country. Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Students’ Federation, Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Women’s Federation, Indigenous Nationalities Youth Association and Alliance for Marginalised Indigenous Groups took part in the protest.