Home Minister Khand takes initiative to forge consensus among all parties on citizenship bill

KATHMANDU : Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has begun discussions at different levels in a bid to forge agreement on the bill relating to the amendment of Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063 BS.

During the discussion, the participants argued that a large number of citizens were deprived of their rights including education and employment as they are unable to receive citizenship certificates. They have also urged Minister Khand to conclude contentious issues in the Bill at the earliest by forging consensus among all political parties.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dilendra Prasad Badu, NC Chief Whip Pushpa Bhushal, lawmaker of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Laxman Lal Karna, Attorney General Khamma Bahadur Khati, Secretary at Home Ministry, Tek Narayan Pande and Secretary at Law Ministry Udaya Raj Sapkota, among others attended the meeting held on Monday.

On the occasion, Home Minister Khand said political consensus is a must to pass the bill. The government is for passing the Bill with the support of all political parties in parliament. Many people were deprived of their right to citizenship due to the long pending bill to amend the existing Citizenship Act.

Minister Khand said that he would try to forge consensus among lawmakers of different political parties first before forwarding it to the top leadership of all political parties in parliament.

Law Minister Badu said the bill will be presented in the parliament after ensuring political consensus among top leadership.

Nepali Congress Whip Pushpa Bhushal said the bill must be passed to guarantee citizenship rights to all eligible Nepali people.