DALIT AGENDA DISCUSSED Kathmandu, 12 May:: Lawmakers and central committee members of the various political parties on Saturday held a meeting to discuss their community's rights in the new constitution, RSS reports. Representatives of Dalit Lawmaker's Forum, United Political Dalit Struggle Committee, and lawmakers of various political parties were present at the meeting. The meeting was conducted at the Parliamentary Party Office of the Nepali Congress (NC). According to NC leader Jivan Pariyar, during the meeting discussions were held on proportional representation of Dalit community in all state apparatus and provision of reserving constituencies for dalit in the election. The participants have also agreed to continue such discussions for dalit's rights in the days to come. Leaders of Dalit community Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma, Min Bishwakarma, Man Bahadur Bishwakarma and Chhabilal Bishwakarma among others were present in the meeting. Nnnn UML AGAINST ETHNIC CONFEDERATION Kathmandu, 12 May:: Vice-chairperson of CPN-UML Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said that the UML was not in favor of making the country as an ethnic confederation in the name of state restructuring. She said that the state will not have its own ethnicity, RSS reports. Speaking at a program in the capital on Saturday, Bhandari accused the UCPN Maoist of attempting to establish the federal states that were 'distributed' during the decade-long insurgency by the Maoist party. "Our party is not in favor of ethnicity–based federalism. We have to fight against discrimination and poverty by safeguarding ourselves from elements that raise the slogans of ethnicity and regionalism," she added. On the occasion, leaders of Dalit community stressed for ensuring rights to dalit in the new constitution and demanded action against the party cadres promoting untouchability and discrimination. UML politburo member Chhabilal Bishowkarma, alternative central committee member Rameshwor Phyual, Jitu Gautam, general secretary of Darjee Samaj Mahesh Bishowkarma and others expressed their opinions. nnnn