KATHMANDU: The women rights activists have demanded to ensure the proportional inclusive rights in accordance with the spirit of the constitution.

Organizing a rally by the Women Rights’ Pressure Campaign at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu to pile a pressure for guarantee of implementation of the proportional inclusive rights enshrined in the constitution.

The rally that began from Maitighar Mandala concluded at New Baneshwor as a corner assembly where the women rights defenders asserted that the system of proportional representation (PR) was not meant for rich and influential individuals. It is, they further argued, for the rights of the marginalized, women, Dalit, indigenous people and backward communities.

The protest has a bearing with some political parties, running for the upcoming March 5’s election to House of Representatives, fielding famous and affluent individuals, in the PR category on the contrary to the core principle of the PR.

The core principle of the PR is that political representation should closely reflect the diversity of votes in the society and thus help mainstream marginalized communities.

The participants of the rally carried a placard that read ‘compliance with the proportional inclusive rights’, ‘end to impunity’, ‘women’s participation in leadership’ among others.

Speaking in the corner meeting, Nanimaya Thapa, senior-vice president of the NGO Federation of Nepal, denounced the tendency among the political parties to give space to wealthy ones, close kins and those influential ones in the PR electoral system.

Thapa further condemned that the new political parties too had followed the suit for the upcoming election by naming famous and wealthy people in the PR list.

Noting the long-enduring struggles of the crusaders to guarantee PR system in the constitution she warned political parties not to misuse it.

“The affluent people and near dear ones can’t be named in the proportional quota,” she cautioned, urging the concerned political parties to immediately remove the names of such people included in the PR list.

Likewise, Monika Niraula, leader of Gen-Z generation, highlighted the need for the political parties to best utilize the constitutionally enshrined rights.

Arguing that the proportional right belongs to marginalized communities, she urged political leaders not to drool over it.

Organizer of the rally shared that they would continue raising voice for fielding rightful candidate in the PR list. They would also carry on the awareness campaign.