NEFIN holds rally to protest FPSC
Kathmandu, August 9
Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities today organised a rally in Kathmandu under the banner ‘Save Reservation Campaign’ to protest the Federal Public Service Commission’s decision to recruit over 9,000 staffers for local governments.
NEFIN organised the protest programme to mark the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples.
Protesters marched through the inner roads of Kathmandu before converging at Maitighar Mandala where leaders from major political parties, including former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, indigenous leader Suresh Ale Magar and columnist CK Lal expressed solidarity with the organisation’s campaign for reservation.
NEFIN and other organisations championing the cause of marginalised communities have opposed the FPSC for not allocating seats under all clusters that qualify for reservation. FPSC has, however, said that it could not allocate seats for all clusters as there were only one or two seats in some local levels.
NEFIN Vice President Govinda Chhantyal said unlike the past when NEFIN used to organise indoor events to mark the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples, this year the umbrella body of indigenous nationalities decided to organise protest rally to warn the government against its attempts to dilute affirmative action. Protesters also presented their cultural dance during the protests today.
“One good thing about ‘Save Reservation Campaign’ is that all marginalised communities are united to protect their interests,” said Chhantyal.
NEFIN will organise a sit-in at Singha Durbar on August 11 and in front of the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on August 13 and 14. On August 17, NEFIN will organise a mass protest in Kathmandu ending the first phase of protest against the government and FPSU. Chhantyal said his organisation will decide about the modes of next phase of protests after consulting with stakeholders.
