Kathmandu, January 21:

A dozen prominent Newar community organisations today vowed to actively boycott the municipal election scheduled for February 6, saying that it would not help resolve the political crisis.

“First of all, this election is unconstitutional and second, it cannot solve the political crisis in the country. Hence we must work together to make sure the elections do not take place,” said Dr Keshav Man Shakya, the vice-chairman of Newa Rashtriya Andolan today at an interaction organised here to discuss contemporary politics and the role of the Newar communities in it.

A statement published at the end of the interaction urged all the valley denizens to boycott the election. The statement bore the signatures of around 20 personal belonging to different Newar organisations.

Shakya said that the Newars needed to fight for their own agendas: ethnic autonomy, inclusive democracy, the reconstruction of state, secularism and new constitution through constituent assembly.

Malla K Sundar, the chairman of Newa National Forum, said that the forum had agreed to work in concert with the seven political parties but was also determined to organise its own movement.

“Boycotting of the controversial municipal election is only a starting point of Newar politics. We have our separate agendas and goals as well,” he said.

Educationist Laxman Rajbanshi said the municipal polls was only a ploy to foil the people’s movement. “But we too hold some reservations about the movements of the Maoists and the seven party alliance as they keep changing their voices,” he added.

Dr Mahesh Man Shrestha said the Newars were not indifferent to politics, as is commonly assumed, while Surendra Shakya, the secretary of Nepalbhasha Mankaa Khalaa Yala, instructed all Newars to play an active role in national politics rather than just engaging in discussions inside closed doors.

Nagendra Shrestha of Newaa Dey Guthi Nepal Mandal, said that since the present constitution cannot do justice to the Newars, a new constitution that ensures the equality of all communities was the need of the hour. Bipindra Maharjan, the central chairman of Jyapu Mahaguthi, too said that the upcoming polls would do nothing to address the concerns of Newars that they have been raising for the last 14 years.

The interaction decided to hold a national Newar conference to discuss political issues soon. A nine-member ad hoc committee has been formed for the same purpose.