'Ethnicity-based federalism will lead to civil war'

CPN (UML) leader Pradeep Nepal has said that ethnicity-based federal structure will ultimately invite civil war in the country.

Talking to Nepalnews Saturday, Nepal said the nation will have to be divided into more than a hundred provinces if ethnicity is be to be the basis of federalism.

According to him, there will be 10 to 15 provinces, but the exact number should be decided through political consensus.

Stating that single Madhes province as demanded by the Terai-based parties is simply impossible, the UML leader maintained that geographical positioning, natural resources, language and culture should also be considered while delineating the federal units.

Opposing the Indian model of provincialism, Nepal said European model, especially that of Switzerland, is best for Nepal.

He further said that success of the federal structure depends on how power is allocated to the provinces while matters related to national security, foreign policy, national highways, railways and big hydropower plants should be decided by the central government. nepalnews.com kp July 05 08