"Such reports and opinions are completely untrue. Article 10 of the Constitution of Nepal clearly provides that no Nepali shall be denied the right to acquire citizenship. Subsequent articles on citizenship (Article 11-15) have ensured the constitutional basis for acquiring citizenship, both by descent and naturalization," reads a statement issued by the embassy on Wednesday."The citizenship-related provisions in the present constitution are, in fact, the most accommodative provisions in the constitutional history of Nepal and guarantee that all Nepalese can achieve the citizenship as per the federal laws."
The embassy has said just as in the constitution of other countries, the constitution of Nepal too has a special provision requiring a person to have acquired citizenship by descent to be elected, nominated and appointed as the president, vice-president, prime minister, chief justice, speaker of the parliament, chairperson of national assembly, head of the province, chief minister, speaker of provincial assembly and chief of security bodies.
"The constitution guarantees that every citizen, by descent or naturalization, shall be equal before the law and no person shall be denied the equal protection of law," the statement further reads. "There is no question of discriminating its own citizens as "second class" citizen.
Stating that the new constitution reflects the aspirations of the people of Nepal who have waited for over 65 years to write their own constitution through the Constituent Assembly, the Nepalese Embassy said that the statute has been adopted by the 601-member strong Constituent Assembly with over 92 percent members taking part in the final adoption process.
The embassy recalled that every word and every sentence of the constitution was discussed, debated, cross-referenced, and improved to the best possible outcome through consensus and compromise after taking it to the people for comments and public hearing.
The embassy described the opinions challenging the ownership or broad-based participation as not carrying any logic and rather trying to undermine the most rigorous, transparent, democratic, inclusive and participatory process of eight long years devoted by the two constituent assemblies to the finalization of the current constitution.
"It is surprising to see that some intellectuals, professionals, columnists and reporters in India have taken no time in terming the new constitution as imperfect and less inclusive," reads the statement. "While referring to the citizenship issue, some have even gone to the extent that the current constitution would bar many Madhesi people of Nepal from holding key positions. This is totally false."
It has also said that such divisive and unsubstantiated comments and opinions on the new constitution might have come without checking facts, reading the text of the constitution and taking into account the reality of ethnic diversity in Nepal and the cordiality of deep-rooted Nepal-India relations.
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