MPs urge to understand concerns of youth on issues of citizenship

Kathmandu, July 14: Members of House of Representatives (HoR) have asked all concerned to immediately pass the bill on citizenship stating that thousands of Nepalis are being deprived of services to be offered by the State for lack of citizenship. 

   
Taking part in the discussions on the Nepal Citizenship (First Amendment) Bill 2079, the members of the HoR asked to seriously consider the problems faced by the youth who have not got citizenship.    

Taking part in the deliberations, lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokharel said it is indisputable to get citizenship on the basis of birth but many Nepalis are deprived of the right of citizenship on the basis of their birth.    

But, he underscored the need for serious discussions on providing citizenship to foreign women immediately after their marriage to Nepali citizens.    

Lawmaker Dibyamani Rajbhandari said clear provision should be stated on the rights of non-resident Nepalis if they were getting Nepali citizenship.    

Lawmakers Surya Prasad Pathak and Ganga Chaudhary expressed their views on why the provision of giving citizenship to foreign-born women after seven years of her marriage to a Nepali youth was replaced in the existing bill. 

   
MP Bimala Bishwakarma said the government should be sensitive to the issue of citizenship adding that there is discrimination regarding the Nepali daughters.    

Some MPs including Padam Giri took exception to the government's move to recall the previous bill prepared after a three-year-long intensive discussion in the parliamentary committee.    

Taking part in the deliberation, lawmaker Durga Poudel said the citizenship policy should be strict and the provision of seven years term for giving naturalized citizenship is appropriate and it should be kept in the current bill.    

However, MP Laxman Lal Karn was optimistic about the current bill and said it would address some issues though the bill is still insufficient to troubleshoot all grievances.    

MP Minendra Rijal asked the government to pass the bill in a brief arguing that Nepalis should not be deprived of their right to get citizenship.    

Lawmakers Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Gajendra Bahadur Mahat, Rangamati Shahi, Nawaraj Silwal, Dila Sangraula, Anjana Bisankhe, and Devendra Raj Kandel among others expressed their views on the citizenship bill. (RSS)