Kathmandu, December 30:

A Janajati leader and minister said today that formation of federal states will be meaningless for the indigenous nationalities unless they are given prerogative rights, while others pledged to uphold the interests of the Janajatis.

Addressing the main function of the three-day Tamu Lhosar festival organised under the aegis of four Gurung organisations here today, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prithvi Subba Gurung urged political leaders to come up with clear views on federalism. “We are talking about federal states on the basis of ethnicity because ethnic people have been suppressed for centuries,” he said.

“Janajatis are not for disintegration,” he said, adding that they should be given all their rights “except the right to disintegrate”. He demanded that top leaders come up with their views on issues being raised by indigenous nationalities.

Addressing the function, Maoist chairman Prachanda said the Tamu community has given a new message of national unity by organising the Lhosar celebration function together this year.

“My 12-year-old dream of creating a new Nepal based on equality is coming to fruition gradually,” he said, adding, “Nepalis are now much aware of their nationality, ethnicity and gender issues.”

Standing committee member of the CPN-UML Bamdev Gautam said Nepal is emerging as a discrimination-free country. He said, “In new Nepal, leaders will not be influenced by foreign powers as they are now.”

“In new Nepal, Janajati leaders will not have to blame political leaders for not meeting their demands because they themselves will have the authority to address demands of the Janajatis,” he said. Gautam said Nepal will be a socialist state, not a capitalist one.

“It’s high time we forged national unity, putting an end to the existing communal and feudalistic state structure,” said senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung. He said unity is impossible unless all people feel they are equal. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel said Janajatis’ rights will only be ensured in Loktantra. He said CA polls should ensure the rights of the Janajatis.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who could not attend the function on health grounds, greetings to the Tamu community.

In his message, Koirala reiterated that the Constituent Assembly polls should be conducted within mid-April.

A convener of the Tamu Lhosar celebration panel R B Tamu said the joint celebration at Tundikhel will continue. He demanded three days of public holiday during Lhosar.

A seminar on “Restructuring of the New Nepal and the Participation of Tamu” was organised yesterday, the second day of the three-day Tamu Lhosar.

A cultural rally was taken out from Basantapur this morning. The procession converged in Tundikhel after passing through New Road, Ratna Park, Jamal, Ghantaghar and Shahidgate. A number of outstanding Gurung people were feted in Tundikhel. Large number people from Gurung and other communities flocked Tundikhel to celebrate Tamu Lhosar, the main festival of the Tamu community.