Lawyers shell discriminatory citizenship proviso
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE KATHMANDU:Lawmakers and lawyers today demanded that the proposed constitutional provision, which is meant to bar naturalised citizens from holding constitutional posts, including President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice, should not figure in the new constitution.
Not a single discriminatory provision will be accepted, said Brinda Pandey, chair of the Fundamental Rights Committee, at a programme organised by various womens rights groups.
She claimed that discriminating people on any grounds is against the spirit of the CA elections as the political parties had, while pleading for votes, pledged to do away with all discriminatory legal provisions.
The proposal, if included in the constitution, will ultimately render the children of naturalised citizens stateless, according to advocate Meera Dhungana.
On her part, Maoist CA member Dharmashila Chapagain demanded a serious dialogue to do away with discriminatory provisions. However, Sapana Pradhan Malla, a UML CA member, said the high-level taskforce has sorted out some significant issues, including providing citizenship certificates by descent to children of naturalised citizens.
However, barring any citizens from holding top posts is discriminatory, said Pradhan.
On the occasion, Constitutional Committee Chairman Nilambar Acharya said he was at a loss over what kind of provision would fit the bill regarding citizenship for the women married to foreigners. I strongly oppose shoving the children of such women to statelessness, said Acharya.
He argued that there must not be any kind of discrimination among Nepali citizens for acquiring citizenship certificates.
Not a single discriminatory provision will be accepted, said Brinda Pandey, chair of the Fundamental Rights Committee, at a programme organised by various womens rights groups.
She claimed that discriminating people on any grounds is against the spirit of the CA elections as the political parties had, while pleading for votes, pledged to do away with all discriminatory legal provisions.
The proposal, if included in the constitution, will ultimately render the children of naturalised citizens stateless, according to advocate Meera Dhungana.
On her part, Maoist CA member Dharmashila Chapagain demanded a serious dialogue to do away with discriminatory provisions. However, Sapana Pradhan Malla, a UML CA member, said the high-level taskforce has sorted out some significant issues, including providing citizenship certificates by descent to children of naturalised citizens.
However, barring any citizens from holding top posts is discriminatory, said Pradhan.
On the occasion, Constitutional Committee Chairman Nilambar Acharya said he was at a loss over what kind of provision would fit the bill regarding citizenship for the women married to foreigners. I strongly oppose shoving the children of such women to statelessness, said Acharya.
He argued that there must not be any kind of discrimination among Nepali citizens for acquiring citizenship certificates.
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