Kathmandu, September 25 :

Noted human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar said today that the political parties were not clear about the issue of republican set-up with ethnic and regional autonomy as demanded by the Newar communities.

Addressing an interaction titled “Newars’ concern over civil movement” organised by the Nepal Bhasha Manka Khala here, Tuladhar appealed to all to think seriously over the issue.

He said it was wrong to say that the Newars did not participate in the people’s movement.

President of the Newa Deya Daboo, Malla K Sundar, said civil society movement would be affected by differences between sections of the civil society. “Holding the constituent assembly polls without the acceptance of the interim constitution by all sections of the society would be unfortunate,”

he said, adding that the indigenous nationalities would suffer the most.

Civil society representative Dr Devendra Raj Pande opined that the nation was striving for peace and democratic republic. He said he was ready to participate in any programme organised by the civil society to press for the establishment of democratic republic.

He also demanded that the government declare the date for an election to the constituent assembly immediately.

“Our observation of the political parties’ and the government’s activities during the last five months proves that they are not serious about constituent assembly polls,” he said.

Former president of the Nepal Bhasha Manka Khala Yala, Bhuwaneswor Joshi, said there were still three power centres in the country and that the monarch was trying to be active.

Writer Khagendra Sangroula and other participants sought the establishment of a federal republic in the country.