Kathmandu, March 26:

Indigenous people have decided to join hands with the political parties and hit the street demanding inclusive democracy and the downfall of autocracy.

The Nepalese Federation of Indigenous People and Nationalities (NEFIN) and the United Struggle Committee of Indigenous People and Nationalities (USCIPN) today announced that the two bodies and other organisations affiliated with them would hold a rally and a protest programme at Basantapur on March 29.

Dr Om Gurung, general secretary of NEFIN, said the Janajatis had been discriminated against politically as well as socially in the past 237 years during the reign of the Shah Kings. Gurung was addressing a press conference organised by the two institutions today. “We have been discriminated against and are bearing the brunt of autocracy,” he said.

Nabin Chitrakar, member-secretary of USCIPN said the rally would commence at noon from Basantapur and make a round of the city before returning to Basantapur for a mass protest.