Citizenship Amendment Bill presented in House of Representatives

Kathmandu: The report on the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill, 2082 was presented during a meeting of the House of Representatives held today (Thursday) at the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwor.

Ramhari Khatiwada, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, submitted the report, informing the House that the bill had been unanimously passed by the committee.

He stated that the bill had been prepared with sensitivity, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all eligible individuals have the opportunity to acquire citizenship, as it is a matter directly linked to national identity and sovereignty.

Khatiwada also urged the House to include the Federal Civil Servants Bill, already submitted by the committee, on the agenda for further discussion.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill had been sent to the committee for clause-by-clause discussion during the House session on 18 Chaitra 2081, and a total of 47 lawmakers had proposed amendments to the original eight-clause bill, which aims to revise the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063.

The committee held five meetings between 21st and 27th Jestha to review the bill before finalizing and approving it.

Meanwhile, discussion on the Appropriation Bill, 2082 has begun in the House of Representatives.

Lawmakers are currently deliberating on the budget allocations for the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

However, discussions related to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Health and Population were removed from Thursday’s agenda.

During the ongoing budget debate, several Members of Parliament who proposed spending cuts are continuing to express their views and recommendations on the appropriation headings.