Kathmandu, May 8:

Constituent Assembly members representing ethnic communities today accused past rulers of suppressing voices of the indigenous people.

Addressing a function organised by the Indigenous Nationalities Forum for Development and Peace to felicitate the CA members, president of the Janamorcha Nepal Amik Sherchan accused past rulers of not heeding the voices of ethnic groups. Sherchan accused successive governments of prioritising the Hindu religion. “But the new constitution will give equal treatment to all religions,” he said. “The new constitution will ensure equal opportunities to every ethnic group,” Sherchan said.

Arjun Rai of the Rastriya Janashakti Party said the new constitution will empower ethnic groups. Govinda Chaudhari of the Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party pledged to serve ethnic groups. Chandra Gurung called on everyone to fight unitedly to protect rights of the ethnic people.

Amrita Thapa Magar of the CPN (Maoist) said ethnic people had been lagging behind because of the patriarchal society besides the Hindu-based centralised system of governance. She said the new constitution should guarantee 45 per cent reservation in all sectors for marginalised groups. Another Maoist lawmaker Dr Indrajit Rai also sought reservation for the marginalised groups.