Pass the Citizenship Bill soon: HM Lekhak

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak informed that the draft of the bill related to non-resident Nepalis has been prepared. Home Minister Lekhak said this while speaking at the meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives at Singha Durbar on Friday.

He said that the bill has also been sent to various ministries for opinion and consultation and the government will soon take it to the House with the consent of the Council of Ministers. He urged that the Bill, 2081, made to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063, be finalized soon.

'Let us pass this bill soon. Whatever we do, pass it quickly. Because there is pain in it. There is a separate bill, a separate act to address the issue of non-resident Nepali citizenship, this Act does not address it,' Home Minister Lekhak said.

He said that a separate bill would be needed to address the issue of non-resident Nepali citizenship. He said that while granting citizenship to non-resident Nepalis in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, economic, social and cultural rights will also be given along with political rights. He said that the passing of the Citizenship Bill will resolve various difficulties of citizens. He said that if all types of citizenship are being given by the districts, then why should the ministry give it to a person born to a Nepali mother and permanently living in Nepal, whose father is not known, has disappeared or has not maintained him.

He said that all other citizenships are given by the districts, it should not be given to the ministry, it should be sent to the districts. I clearly say that it should be sent to the districts. Home Minister Lekhak informed that the government has also moved forward towards amending the rules. Home Minister Lekhak said that in granting citizenship to non-resident Nepalis, the spirit of the Constitution including economic, social and cultural rights apart from political rights has been prepared in accordance with the Bill regarding Non-Resident Nepalis.

He said that arrangements will be made to grant citizenship to a person born to a Nepali mother and permanently residing in Nepal, whose father is unknown, has disappeared or has not maintained him.