Hundreds stage protest against proposed name for Province 3

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, January 6 Hundreds of people representing indigenous communities today gathered at Maitighar Mandala, to protest the name and
headquarters of Province 3 proposed by the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Secretariat. NCP had, on December 29, decided to propose to
the NCP-led Province 3 government to carry forward the process of naming the province Bagmati and designating Hetauda as its permanent
headquarters. Agitated with the decision, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities and other organisations advocating the Newari
identity have staged protest against the decision. The protesters, during today protest programme ledby NFIN, displayed placards with
slogans such as ‘Long Live Indigenous Autonomy&. The demonstrators demanded that the province be named Newa-Tamsaling Province. NFIN has
been demanding that the province be named Newa-Tamsaling as it would protect the identity of indigenous Newari and Tamang communities
They have also demanded that either Banepa or Dhulikhel be designated as the headquarters of the province. Jagat Bahadur Baram, president of
NFIN said, &Naming Province 3 ‘Bagmati& will be a mere repetition of the Panchayet system
We cannot accept this as we have contributed immensely to bring about changes in the ruling system and establish federal democratic republic
system in the country.& Suraj Maharjan, secretary of Samajwadi Newa Sangh, said, &Naming the province on the recommendation of the party
ruling at the centre suggests that the federal government does not want to designate power to provinces.& Maharjan stressed the need to base
the name of the province on identity and added that the state must give due recognition to the identities of indigenous people. Most of the
protesters were of the view that although the ruling system had changed, the rulers were still guided by the same old mindset. Parbat
Tamang, one of the demonstrators, said, &Our identity should be reflected in the name of the province. The participants also warned of
stringent protests if their demands were ignored by the government. The post Hundreds stage protest against proposed name for Province 3
appeared first on The Himalayan Times.