UML lawmaker Pemba Bhote tabled a 53-point note of dissent at the Constituent Assembly. Terming the draft as a “regressive” document compared to the Interim Constitution-2007, they called for incorporating their concerns by revising the provisions. The paper seeks institutionalisation of autonomous regions for indigenous nationalities.

“We found the draft regressive. A constitution is already there: we are writing a new one to address the agendas of the marginalised communities,” said Bhote.

Fearing conflict in provincial assemblies while naming the states later, lawmakers from indigenous groups want the names decided before the dissolution of the CA. “For us, names that reflect our identity are more important than the border of provinces,” said Bhote.

Four major political parties signed a 16-point pact on June 8, agreeing to mandate the provincial assemblies to name the states and to form a high-level Federal Commission to recommend their boundaries.

Janajati lawmakers are dissatisfied at the draft after many provisions endorsed by the first CA were removed. “The previous CA had unanimously endorsed 23 autonomous regions for minorities with less than one percent population,” said NC lawmaker Nagendra Kumal.

“The decision not to have Aadivasi Janajatis (indigenous nationalities) in the preamble of the constitution could not have been an exception. Merging the Aadivasi Janajati Commission with the Inclusive Commission is another blunder,” said Kumal.

The ethnic lawmakers have reached an understanding to draw the attention of their party seniors on the matter.