Kathmandu, January 17:

Minister for Local Development Dev Prasad Gurung today said that without granting autonomy to indigenous nationalities within the country these people would not be sovereign.

While addressing the inaugural function of the fifth meeting of the executive council of the Nepal Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) here today Gurung claimed the issue of indigenous nationalities is directly related to nationalism.

“People only sees the external forces that pose a threat to nationalism but never think of internal forces including the suppressed feeling of indigenous groups,” he commented adding nationalism would become weaker if Nepal does not accept federal states with autonomy to the indigenous groups. He added the existing laws on indigenous nationalities should be amended to ensure their rights. The existing list is not inclusive and a scientific standard to categorise these groups is essential. Sending a message to the council meeting, NFDIN chairman PM Girija Prasad Koirala hailed the role of indigenous nationalities in establishing democratic practices in the country. “History is giving a challenging responsibility to the indigenous nationalities to conduct the CA polls on April 10 and I would like to request all janajatis to fulfil this responsibility and change the nation into a new and prosperous Nepal,” the PM said.

President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Pasang Sherpa expressed concern over the government for failing to implement the 20-point pact signed with the indigenous people on August 7, 2007.