Kathmandu, February 18:

The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Students (NEFINS) has condemned the government for prohibiting leaders of indigenous nationalities, including general secretary of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Dr Om Gurung, and human rights activist Malla K Sundar, from addressing the inaugural session of a three-day cultural festival of indigenous nationalities in Damauli. “We condemn the local administration for prohibiting the leaders from addressing the inaugural session of the festival,” the NEFINS said in a press release today.

“The undemocratic ban imposed on the freedom of speech in the name of security has uncovered the real intention of the autocratic government,” NEFINS general secretary Bhupendra Pulami Magar said, adding the government had imposed the ban because the NEFIN had been taking part in the ongoing democratic movement.