Indigenous communities take to streets demanding federal republic: Even as agitation in Terai continued unabated, Nepal National Federation of Indigenous/Janajati community took to the streets of the capital demanding federal republic in the country. Various ethnic communities in a rally demanding that the government fulfill their... The demonstrations participated by various ethnic communities demanded federal restructuring of the state together with right to self determination. The demonstrators demanded immediate amendment in the interim constitution for the purpose. Meanwhile, after meeting with Prime Minister as a member of the Terai MPs' delegation Bijay Gachhadar, former minister and central leader of Nepali Congress (Democratic), said that they wanted the Prime Minister to issue fresh statement conceding to demands like PR electoral system. "I also want to clear confusion that we want delimitation of constituencies based solely on population. We understand the need to make geography also a criterion for the purpose," he told media. Earlier, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradeep Gyawali said that the government did not think that making population as the sole basis for delimitation of constituencies was appropriate as it could hurt the interests of remote and backward districts with less population. The government has already formed a three-member team headed by minister Mahantha Thakur to initiate talks with agitators. The team has been authorised to formulate its own procedural rules and confer with the government and eight party leaders when deciding on important issues. nepalnews.com sd Feb 02 07