Citizenship Bill aims to ensure constitutional right : Home Minister Khand

Kathmandu / Aug. 29: Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has said the government wished that all Nepali citizens could get citizenship as ensured by the Constitution.

During a discussion on the message of the President in regard to the Bill to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act- 2007 in a meeting of the Legislation Committee, National Assembly today, the Minister made it clear that the government wished no Nepali citizen will be denied of the State’s recognition and is based on the same good faith, it had proceeded with the Bill to amend the Act.

He said, “The opposition was silent during the endorsement of the Bill gesturing its support to the move, the Bill was taken head with the support of all concerned.”

Informing the meeting that despite being the offspring of a Nepali mother and a Nepali father, many are suffering from a state of Statelessness as they have not got citizenship, he admitted that despite long efforts, the Constitutional proclamation to address the issues of those facing Stateless has remained unmet.

According to the Minister, the President’s message is focused on that no Nepali citizen shall be denied citizenship.

Prior to this meeting, main opposition CPN (UML) lawmakers Devendra Dahal, Bhagawati Neupane and Bimala Rai Poudel viewed that the President’s message and the Bill should be in tune with each other.

They demanded that the people should be made all clear about the provisions in regard to natural citizenship on the basis of marriage.

Committee member Pramila Kumari a large youth population eligible to obtain citizenship on the basis of birth are waiting for the State’s recognition and that’s why there should be no hurdle in finalising the Bill from anywhere.

Jitendra Narayan Dev said the Bill reached before the President after its endorsement from both houses and from the message by the Head-of-the-State in regard to it, it could be perceived the document had some constitutional issues. Through the message, the President drew the attention of the government and political parties to the issues concerning naturalized citizenship on the basis of marriage.

As he said, it would be appropriate to hold constructive discussions on the issue.

It may be noted that the Bill was sent to the President for authentication following its endorsement by both houses of the Federal Parliament on July 11 and the President sent it back to the HoR on August 14 with an eight-point message for reconsideration. RSS