The NRN representatives reiterated their demand for Nepali citizenship before a group of Constituent Assembly (CA) members closely involved in drafting the new constitution.[break]
As per the proposal, any NRN holding citizenship of a foreign country also be allowed to posses Nepali citizenship with political rights. However, the proposed provision for dual citizenship doesn´t apply to Nepalis staying and working in any of the SAARC countries. Earlier, the CA thematic committee on fundamental rights had proposed to provide Nepali ID to NRNs with similar rights.
Khimlal Devkota and Ekraj Bhandari of UCPN (Maoist), Bimalendra Nidhi, Radheshyam Adhikari, Pushpa Bhusal and Gagan Thapa of Nepali Congress, Pradip Gyawali, Bhim Rawal, Agni Kharel and Sapana Malla Pradhan of CPN-UML, Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhavana Party and Abhikekh Pratap Sah of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, among other lawmakers, were present at the interaction with NRN representatives in Kathmandu on Thursday.
NRN-A President Jiba Lamichhane argued that a Nepali at one point of time be allowed to remain a Nepali always. He emphasized that the right to dual citizenship be ensured in the constitution and not only in the laws.
Former NRN-A President Upendra Mahato accused the Nepali political parties of unnecessarily prolonging the matter. “This issue should have been resolved years ago but it has been prolonged unnecessarily," Mahato said. "I don´t understand why leaders in Nepal are hesitating to provide citizenship to Nepalis who left this country as unskilled persons and want to return home with skills and knowledge."
Leaders, however, said citizenship sans political rights was proposed as guaranteeing all rights to NRNs would invite problems.
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