KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli, Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and other leaders have agreed to change the current provision that grants naturalized citizenship instantly to a woman marrying a Nepali citizen.

During a meeting held at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar on Friday evening, Prime Minister Oli said it was time to amend the current provision of granting citizenship.

A provision of granting naturalized citizenship to those marrying a Nepali citizen only after seven years has been proposed in the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee and the NCP Chairmen supported it, NCP lawmakers said.

The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) is in favor of the continuation of the provision in the Citizenship Act, 2063 that grants naturalized citizenship instantly to a woman marrying a Nepali citizen.

Meanwhile, NCP has summoned a meeting of its Secretariat at 9 am on Saturday.

The ruling party had called the meeting to seek consensus on the bill to amend the Citizenship Act 2063, which is under consideration in the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the House of Representatives.