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Division according to ethnicity will create new high-low categories of people. It will segregate us all and that's not good. | It's wrong. We must live together with unity in an undivided Nepal, not in ethnic states. |
Across the country, across all social strata, across ethnic and caste groups, citizens when asked, have serious misgivings about federalism by identity. The silent majority wants peace, justice and democracy, and is against stoking ethnic tensions for political gain. If our current crop of leaders had half the common sense that ordinary Nepalis show, we would not be in the mess we are in today. Sunir Pandey of Nepali Times approached a cross section of Nepalis to ask them what they thought of federalism:
"Instead of ethnic, the states should be named after temples, cultures etc and only then would these conflicts and struggles end."
Sumita Joshi, Darchula, Student
"I don't agree with it. It's not good for us."
Aishwarya Rayamajhi,Sarlahi, Student
"Ethnic federalism will fracture the country and invite conflict and civil war. Who knows, we may need passports to travel from one state to another."
Samir Shrestha, Sarlahi, Armed Police Force
![]() PICS: SUNIR PANDEY It will bring conflicts between ethnic groups. It may turn out like India-Pakistan partition. Puja Gurung and Prabina Limbu, Dharan, Students |
Jeni Ojha, Pokhara, Nurse
We need stage-wise development for minorities, but this is the wrong way to do it and will only bring violence."
Susmita Limbu, Kathmandu, Nurse
"Talking about ethnicity will only bring violence, and conflicts of all sorts.There are only two types of people: male and female."
Rajendra Sahi, Kathmandu, Butcher
"There are so many ethnicities that don't have a majority population, our priority must be to include minorities."
Lalan Bachhar, Sarlahi, Civil service aspirant
"There are over 100 ethnicities in Nepal and I also don't even agree with the One Madhes demand."
Rupesh Shah, Bara, Jobless
"Ethnic division is not a good thing, one undivided country is better."
Nandakishor Shah, Rautahat, Jobless
"We must do federalism according to geography and not according to ethnicities."
Khina Dhakal, Jhapa, Student
"There are so many ethnicities that the country will fragment into tiny countries."
Devesh Pokhrel, Palpa, Kitchen worker
"It is wrong, it will bring ethnic wars."
Sagar Shrestha, Nuwakot, Cook
"I don't like it."
Sagar Lama, Nuwakot, Rickshaw puller
"Federal states are all right, but they should not be on the basis of ethnicity."
Sudhir Karki, Kathmandu, Student
"It might be the only way: the struggle for equality is long and hard."
Laldhoj Lama, Kabhre, Goat-herder
"It will create misunderstanding, there will be little to agree about and plenty to fight – not good for the country."
Abu Bakar, Kathmandu, Trader
"Right, wrong, good, bad, none of it will bring anything good for people like us working on daily wages."
Rudra Magar, Dolakha – Labourer
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Because of ethnic division, each group will be the enemy of the other, meaning more violence and conflict. | I think division on the basis of ethnicities is wrong. |
"Ethnic federalism will segregate the population and create tension among Nepalis who have lived in harmony for ages and spread distrust."
Drona Koirala, Jhapa, Student
"It will create conflict, and put Nepal back hundreds of years."
Niraj Magar, Jhapa, +2 Student
"Making ethnic divisions and conflict feels wrong."
Apsara Acharya, Kabhre, Tailor
"If ethnic divisions take place, everyone will live separately, there will be infighting."
Bikram Shrestha, Banepa, Electronics shop
Read also:
"Too much politics?too many politicians",,SITA MADEMBA in DHARAN
I am Amrit Nepali, AMRIT GURUNG
From Syangja to Sydney, from Fikkal to Finland, the silent majority of Nepalis don't agree with the division of Nepal
National identity crisis, RUBEENA D SHRESTHA
At a time when we should be valuing our multiple, intersecting identities, we are being told to choose a single, overarching definition of ourselves