CHITWAN: The eighth general convention of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (Nefin) concluded by electing Nagendra Kumal as the chairman and Pemba Gurung as the general secretary for the coming three years. Kumal defeated his nearest rival Chandra Bikram Rai by securing 32 votes of the total 53.

Similarly, the convention held at Sauraha of Chitwan elected Ram Awatar Mandal from Tarai region, Dandu Sherpa from mountainous region, Surya Bahadur Bhujel from hilly region, Tapiya Darai from inner Tarai and Roshni Meche from women as the vice-chairpersons of the Nefin.

Jagat Bahadur Baram was elected treasurer while Yam Bahadur Chepang, Ganesh Lal Thakali, Dhyani Urab, Chinimaya Majhi and Yeshodha Chaudhary were elected secretaries.

The three-day general convention was concluded by issuing a 30-point Sauraha Declaration.

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala has hold parleys with the party’s dissenting leaders from indigenous communities today. The janajati leaders in the NC have been piling pressure on party leadership to bring party’s clear stance on federalism with identity.

The leaders met Koirala at his residence in Maharajgunj and urged to accept the federalism with identity, said one of the disgruntled leaders Indra Bahadur Gurung.

The disgruntled leaders have asked the party president to table the report prepared by a committee headed by late Bhim Bahadur Tamang. The NC indigenous leaders have been opposing the report submitted by late Tamang.

The NC leaders from the indigenous communities have warned the top leaders of quitting the party if it fails to incorporate their genuine issues.

Prior to this, like CPN (UML) many NC indigenous leaders including former lawmakers have defected the NC alleging it of not being liberal to their demands.

A federation of these community, Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN, on Sunday rolled out plans to launch street protests against what it said conspiracy to undermine their demands recognised by the erstwhile constituent assembly.

NEFIN chairman Raj Kumar Lekhi has claimed that the three lead parties were reaching agreement to form consensus government by agreeing on multi-ethnic identity as basis for federalism, reducing proportional representation and seats of the new constituent assembly, promulgating the new constitution through legislature parliament and to nullify various reports prepared by various thematic committees of the erstwhile CA.

Though the press release did not elaborate any basis for such claims, it nevertheless announced the organisations plan to protest against the major parties- UCPN Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML—and the United Democratic Madhesi Front.

The federation has announced to organise a protest assembly at Ratnapark in Shantibatika on Monday morning. The threat comes a day short before the time line given by the President to lead parties to forming national consensus government ends.