KATHMANDU: Ruling parties lashed out at President Bidya Devi Bhandari for what they said “unconstitutional move” as she declined to authenticate the Citizenship Bill sent to her by the Federal Parliament for certification.

In a strong-worded joint statement issued after a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Wednesday, the ruling parties came down heavily criticizing President Bhandari for “violating” the Constitution.

“The President’s move is a blatant violation of the Constitution and parliamentary dignity,” the statement said adding, “We have taken it very seriously.”

The ruling coalition is enraged after President Bhandari rejected the Citizenship Bill passed by the House of Representatives for the second time and sent it to the President for authentication.

“This unconstitutional move by the President has grossly insulted and devalued the Federal Parliament elected by the people,” the statement said.

The alliance said the President’s move can invite serious circumstances.

The alliance has concluded that President Bhandari has disrespected the dignity of the Constitution and has snubbed the parliamentary system by violating the constitutional obligation to authenticate the Bill.

The parties said that the President’s move has caused a threat to the system itself, and violated the dignity of the Constitution and the Parliament.

The deadline for authenticating Citizenship Bill sent by the Federal Parliament to President Bhandari ended on Tuesday midnight.

According to the Constitutional provision, the President had to authenticate the Bill within 15 days.

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota sent the Citizenship Bill to the President’s Office for the second time on September 5.

Therefore, as mentioned in Article 113, Sub-section 4 of the Constitution, the President had to certify it if the same Bill was submitted for authentication for the second time.

“If the President returns a bill with a message, both Houses will reconsider such a bill and if such a bill is passed as presented or resubmitted with amendments, the President will certify it within fifteen days of its submission,” according to the Constitution.

Earlier on August 14, President Bhandari returned the Citizenship Bill that was passed by the House of Representatives and the National Assembly and sent for authentication.

Even though the President returned the Bill to the House for reconsideration, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly made no changes to the Bill.