Patna, March 28: His forefathers hail from Bihar and he is a retired constable of the Indian Army. But still he is alienated from his identity as an Indian.

Yogesh Kumar Chettri was among the 150 members of the Nepali community who assembled on the premises of Indian Institute of Business Management today for a programme organised by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Akhil Bhartiya Nepali Adhikar Manch, to speak for their rights.

“It’s true that my roots are in Nepal but I am also an Indian like any other resident of this country,” said Yogesh.

The members of the Nepali community were seen voicing their demand for a Nepali commission that would contribute to their progress.

Their demand: “Pratham Nitish pahal kare, Nepali aayog ka gathan kare (Let first Nitish initiate and form the Nepali commission)”.

An emotional Yogesh said: “I think it is high time that the Nepali people residing in India became aware of their rights. Why do the people still call us ‘Nepali’? We are Indians like everybody else. One cannot deny the role that the Gorkha regiment played during the freedom struggle. Then how are we different from the rest? Our country is our identity.”

Yogesh had come to attend the programme with his entire family — niece, uncle, mother and brother.

“We swing between the Indian and Nepali communities. When we go to Nepal, the people there consider us as Indians and here in India, it is the opposite. So where should we go?” said K.B. Chettri, Yogesh’s uncle.

National chairperson of the NGO Savita Singh Nepali said: “Although we are voters we are still deprived of our rights. Nepali people do not have their own house and their children are not educated. No politician has been very kind to the community too. So what is wrong if we demand for a Nepali commission, which can contribute towards the progress of our community? I request chief minister Nitish Kumar to please set up the commission soon.”