Amendment on the citizenship bill under deliberation has raised the concern of some lawmakers. They fear that the bill might facilitate foreigners into getting Nepali citizenship.
Deliberation on the bill on the amendment of Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 at the State Affairs Committee of the lower house is in its final stage.
The amended bill has revoked the provision in section 4 of the Citizenship Act 2063, which states that a person born or residing in Nepal prior to March 1990 will be granted the citizen of Nepal by descent or blood.
Earlier, some leaders of the civil society had submitted a letter of memorandum to the Speaker of the parliament, Krishna Bahadur Mahara asking him to repeal the bill stating that it would facilitate foreigners to obtain Nepali citizenship.
The amended bill has revoked the provision in section 4 of the Citizenship Act 2063, which states that a person born or residing in Nepal prior to March 1990 will be granted the citizen of Nepal by descent or blood.
Citizenship was then distributed to people deprived of citizenship certificates on the basis of the act upon the promulgation of the constitution of Nepal 1990.
Citizenship was again distributed targeting such people in 2008. In 2008, a mobile team had doled out citizenship certificates to total 1,90,000 people. There has been criticism from different quarters that the citizenship certificate was then distributed to a significant number of foreigners.
Even a record by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that 400 foreign nationals had obtained Nepali citizenship during that time. The ministry says that it is initiating action against foreign nationals taking advantage of the citizenship certificate.
The current amendment has a provision to grant citizenship certificate based on descent or blood relation to the children of those who had obtained citizenship certificate as per section 4 of the Citizenship Act 2063.
However, if the identity of the father is established upon a child having obtained the citizenship certificate and if the father happens to be a foreign national, the person in question becomes a naturalized citizen.
Some law makers including Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) fear that the bill if passed will result in foreign nationals holding Nepali citizenship.
The bill also has a provision that either the father or the mother can hand over rights to citizenship to his/her children. In the absence of the father or where the whereabouts of the father is not known, children can obtain citizenship from the mother.
However, if the identity of the father is established upon a child having obtained the citizenship certificate and if the father happens to be a foreign national, the person in question becomes a naturalized citizen.
The bill has a challenging provision to a foreign woman married to a Nepali man. Though the women is entitled to naturalized citizenship, according to the bill, her citizenship status will be revoked in her failure to present the proof that she had given up the foreign citizenship within six months of obtaining the Nepali citizenship.
KATHMANDU: When rhododendron trees are in full bloom with the advent of the spring season, their aromatic flowers create red blotches on the white and green hills of Taplejung district.
It blooms along the swathe of hilly region of the country stretching from Taplejung in the east to Dadeldhura in the far-west.
The flowers bloom to the fullest during mid-March to mid-May with the backdrop of the mountain range, appealing to the eyes of both domestic and foreign tourists.
A large of number of domestic tourists capturing images of rhododendron flowers on their cameras at Kahundanda in Pokhara Metropolitan City-11. (RSS)
Rhododendron arboreum is an impressive tree species of rhododendron that grows as tall as 20 meters with brilliant red flowers. According to Dr Yadav Upreti, a researcher, a total of 33 species of rhododendron flowers available in Nepal, 30 species of rhododendrons are found in Province 1 alone. They are found in Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Tehrathum and Shankhwasabha district at the altitude between 1,200 meters and 3,600 meters.
Similarly the rhododendrons bloom in Kaski, Myagdi, Baglung in the west and Dadeldhura in the far-west. They are found in red, purple, and pink and while colors.
The rhododendron is not only popular for its beauty but is also adored for its medicinal value. It is also used for making pickle and alcohol as well.
Domestic tourists taking a selfie at Kanhudanda of Pokhara Metropolitan City-11. (RSS)
It is high time that domestic and foreign tourists started thronging hills to savor the beauty of rhododendron flowers, with the backdrop of the snow-capped mountain range in Nepal.
KATHMANDU: US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo has sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister KP Oli for completing the first year in office.
In a letter addressed to PM Oli, Pompeo said, “Dear Mr. Prime Minister: Congratulations on the completion of your first year in office, a particularly auspicious anniversary after the 2017 elections that constituted a milestone on Nepal’s democratic journey.”
In his letter, Pompeo has said that when he met with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali recently, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Nepal-US relationship. “My meeting with Foreign Minister Gyawali consolidated some important commitments, including the paramount importance of ensuring the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact moves forward according to the agreed-upon principles,” the letter said.
He has also appreciated Foreign Minister Gyawali’s assurance that the Government of Nepal would uphold its international obligations, including the binding agreements that govern our bilateral assistance and the UN Security Council sanctions compelling North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.
Pompeo, in the letter, has further stated that as Nepal strives to realize the fruits of peace and political stability, he believed it will become increasingly apparent that the U.S. emphasis on a free and open Indo-Pacific region, providing for the prosperity, sovereignty, and security of every country, is very much in Nepal’s own interest.
“Recognizing your own experience as a political prisoner, I welcomed Foreign Minister Gyawali’s reassurance that Nepal would continue to protect the rights of Tibetans in Nepal, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which ensures that individuals will not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or their religious, cultural, and linguistic freedoms,” the letter said.
Pompeo, in the letter, has further stated that as Nepal strives to realize the fruits of peace and political stability, he believed it will become increasingly apparent that the U.S. emphasis on a free and open Indo-Pacific region, providing for the prosperity, sovereignty, and security of every country, is very much in Nepal’s own interest.
“I was honored by Foreign Minister Gyawali’s invitation to visit Nepal. Both the American and Nepali people have high expectations for our relationship. As we look to elevate U.S.-Nepal ties, let us move forward in a spirit of genuine partnership, not only in the tone of our public comments but also in the progress we make through concrete action on our commitments,” he said.
“I have charged Ambassador Berry with ensuring we deliver on those expectations, including by demonstrating tangible results in the coming months,” he said in the letter.
MAHENDRANAGAR: Former Superintendent of Police (SP) Dilli Raj Bista, who was dismissed on the charge of committing grave mistakes during investigation into the rape-and-murder case of Nirmala Panta, turned up at the court today.
Bista turned up at the Kanchanpur District Court on Tuesday. The victim’s kin had filed a case at the district court against Bista for his ‘sheer negligence’ in course of investigation.
Bista appeared at the court to record his statement. Panta’s family had lodged a case against as many as eight individuals including Bista. Six suspended police officials have been released on bail.
Meanwhile, the court has summoned DSP Angur Baba GC (now suspended) of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, to appear at the court. However, GC has not turned up yet.
A thirteen-year-old Nirmala Pant had been murdered in cold blood after rape in Bhimdatta Municipality-2, Kanchanpur while she was returning home from her friend’s house on July 26.
Nirmala’s body was found dumped in a sugarcane field the next day.
KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Ambassador of Vietnam Ton Sinh Thanh has submitted his letter of credence to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
He is a non-residential ambassador.
Likewise, he also called on Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali on Monday.
BEJHAD: The original form of Holi celebration is waning with the rise in cosmetic cultural practices in rural areas of late.
The indigenous celebration of the festival of color has almost disappeared in villages. Colleagues used to gather at homes and sing indigenous songs but the peculiar cultural practice is on the verge of disappearance with the import of foreign cultures.
The festival used to be celebrated by singing local songs and playing music during Holi celebration. The hard-earned culture of Holi celebration is almost out of sight these days.
Recounting his experience of Holi celebration, Jaya Narayan Neupane, a local of Rampur says, We used to enjoy Holi through participatory celebration. Some people used to sing Holi songs; some played bands and some other danced. It was really enchanting”.
The Holi celebration has become extravagant and showy these days which does not bode well for our humankind, he added.
BHARATPUR: Three people have died in separate incidents in Chitwan district last night.
Pillion rider Kumar Adhikari, 34, of Khaireni municipality-13, died in a motorbike accident in Bharatpur in the wee hours of Tuesday, confirmed the District Police Office, Chitwan.
The accident took place when the motorbike, Ba 91 Pa 348),en route to Tandi from Bharatpur hit the divider at the central bus terminal chowk after losing control.
He died while undergoing treatment at Bharatpur hospital. Critically injured Somnath Sedhai, 38, of Dhading Kayapur-5 is receiving treatment at Chitwan Medical College.
Likewise, a woman died in a rhino attack in eastern Chitwan. Janaki Chaudhary, 55, of Ratnanagar municipality-6 was attacked by a rhino while she was cutting grass in the Chitwan National Park.
Seriously injured Chaudhary breathed her last in course of treatment at Chitwan Medial College, informed District Police Office, Chitwan.
In another road accident, a person died and other four were injured when a Narayangarh-bound truck (Na 16 Kha 144) from Muglin fell into the Trishuli River this morning.
The truck fell into the river from a bridge at Ichhakamana-6 of Chitwan along the Narayangarh-Mugling road section at 7.00 today, confirmed the Area Police Office, Mugling.
Four injured are undergoing treatment at Bharatpur Hospital. The identities of the deceased are not known yet.
KATHMANDU: It has been revealed that the bomb detonated at Ncell headquarters (Hq.) in Nakhkkhu was Neogel-90. This time bomb is very powerful and fatal, a report in Annapurna daily said.
This explosive Neogel-90 is composed of ammonium nitrate which cannot be sold and purchased in Nepal and India without prior recommendation of the security agency, said Nepal Army.
A man had died and two others sustained injuries in the explosion that took place at Nakhkhu-based Ncell Hq. on February 22.
Nepal Communist Party led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ had claimed responsibility for the bomb attack.
KATHMANDU: Naya Shakti Party Nepal Coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai has objected to the provision that allows the prime minister to directly mobilize the Nepal Army.
Talking to journalists in the capital on Tuesday, Bhattarai said that the provision of direct army mobilization by the prime minister will run risk of coup.
The bill has been tabled in the parliament with a provision that allows the prime minister to mobilize army in case the meeting of security council could not hold its meeting at the time of necessity following approval by the president.
The security council is comprised of prime minister, defense minister and chief of army staff.
KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari today certified two bills approved by both the Houses of the Federal Parliament.
The Pension Fund Bill-2075 and Payment and Clearance Bill-2075 were approved by the President in accordance with Article 113 (2) of the Constitution, the Office of the President said.