National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), the umbrella body of Nepali indigenous nationalities, has welcomed the government's decision to withdraw the cases filed against the indigenous right activists.

The NEFIN’s welcome comes at a time when the government decision to withdraw cases lodged in connection with Tharuhat and Madhes movements has been drawing criticism from various rights bodies including the National Human Rights Commission. The rights bodies have lashed out at the government decision demanding that those involved in serious crimes must be punished.

In a press statement on Friday, NEFIN general secretary Nitya Nanda Tajpuriya has said the NEFIN heartily welcomes the Thursdya’s Cabinet decision to withdraw the fake cases filed against people on charge of their involvement in the Tikapur incident of August 2015.

He said the NEFIN demands the government withdraw all such 'fake' cases filed against the indigenous rights activists unconditionally.

On Thursday, the government had decided to accept both Tharuhat and Madhes struggles as political movements.