KATHMANDU: Lawmakers have laid emphasis on making provisions so that only the bona-fide Nepali citizens deprived of citizenship get the citizenship and non-Nepalis do not get it in view of protecting national interest and nationality.
Taking part in the discussions on the Nepal Citizenship (First Amendment) Bill, 2079 BS along with a message received from the House of Representatives in the National Assembly (NA) meeting on Thursday, NA members demanded having stringent provisions in connection to the naturalized citizenship by matrimonial relations.
Beduram Bhusal stressed on the need of determining the window period in connection with naturalized citizenship through marriage. He said Nepali daughters married to Indian nationals get the Indian citizenship only after seven years of marriage and the same provision should apply for Nepal.
Bimala Rai Poudel said although she was positive that the Nepali youths deprived of citizenship should get one, some provisions of this bill had to be corrected.
Bhairab sundar Shrestha demanded that the bill should be sent to the related committee and the window period should be set for naturalized citizenship through matrimony.
Khim Lal Bhattarai said they support the provision of providing citizenship to those eligible for citizenship by birth.
Suresh Kumar Ale Magar called for clarifying certain provisions in the bill as the issue of citizenship is related to nationality.
Urmila Aryal called on the government to be responsible on sensitive and serious issues as citizenship.
Jaga Prasad Sharma said that the voice of the people who have not got their citizenship should be heard without compromising on the national integrity.
Ganga Belbase cautioned against having loose provisions on distribution of citizenship in view of Nepal’s location in a sensitive position in terms of geography, political and cultural aspects.
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