Citizenship bill was against the nation, President used veto: President’s office

KATHMANDU: The President’s Office has said that President Bidya Devi Bhandari vetoed against the citizenship bill in September as the bill was against the nation.

Sending a written response to the Supreme Court via the Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday the President’s office has clarified the reason for not authenticating the citizenship bill passed by both Houses in the parliament.

Hearing on the five writ petitions filed at the SC on September 22, seeking the apex court’s mandamus to make the President issue the disputed citizenship, the Supreme Court had issued a show-cause notice issued on September 25.

The President’s letter claimed that the head of the state has a veto to refuse any bill contradicting the national interest and the spirit of the constitution.

Although the letter has cited the veto power in countries with an executive president such as the United States and the countries with constitutional presidents such as India, it has maintained that Nepal’s Constitution is not clear about it.