KATHMANDU: Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav has said people not possessing citizenship should also be included in the voting process.
Taking to Twitter on Sunday, JSP Chair Yadav said not including such persons in the voters’ list was unconstitutional and against international law.
He added the government had deprived tens of thousands of people born in the country of citizenship and as many citizens in Madhes were also without citizenship certificates.
“In such case, the Election Commission not including the names of those without citizenship in the voters’ roll, depriving them of the right to vote and prevent them from participating in the election process is unconstitutional and against international law and inhumane acts,” he said. He added, “Such provision did not exist even during the Panchayat period and the reign of the king.”
At present, the Election Commission lists only those above 18 years of age and having citizenship in the voters’ list. Only those whose names are on the voters’ list can take part in voting.
He also said that millions of people were facing difficulty as the government was not able to address the situation. He urged the government and the Election Commission to consider including citizenship-deprived people in the voters’ roll.
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