Category: Nepal

Categories
Nepal Sport Sports

India thrash Nepal 4-0 in  SAFF U-17 Championship

The second goal meant that Nepal began attacking the Indian half with a lot more urgency, but the Indian midfield was managing to frustrate their efforts…reports Asian Lite News

Indian boys’ football team clinched the SAFF U-17 Championship title after defeating a 10-man Nepal 4-0 in the final at the Racecourse International Stadium, here on Wednesday.

Boby Singh, Korou Singh, captain Vanlalpeka Guite, and Aman scored a goal each, to shape a resounding victory in India’s favour. With this win, India retained the title, which was previously labelled as the SAFF U-15 Championship.

In the group league, Nepal defeated India 3-1. However, in the final, India looked a side eager to take complete charge of the proceedings right from the word go.

They got off the blocks early in the match, looking to find the gaps in the Nepal defence, and managed to get the lead in the 18th minute through Boby, who headed it into the goal at the far post, after a good piece of play between Ricky Meetei and Vanlalpeka Guite, as the latter sailed a cross towards the eventual goalscorer.

Guite was in the thick of things again 12 minutes later, getting another assist to his name, as he played a through ball to Korou Singh, who just had to round the keeper and slot it home.

The second goal meant that Nepal began attacking the Indian half with a lot more urgency, but the Indian midfield was managing to frustrate their efforts.

The frustration came to the surface on the 39th minute, when Nepal captain Prashant Laksam elbowed Danny Laishram on the back after the two tangled up in a challenge – an action that was straightaway awarded with a red card by the referee.

With the man advantage, India saw out the rest of the first half, before resuming the proceedings after the change of ends. Soon enough, Guite, who had earlier provided two assists, netted a goal of his own in the 63rd minute, when his cross from the left swerved into the top corner, handing India a three-goal lead.

Nepal’s second half substitute Dhan Singh did create a couple of chances for his side in the closing minutes, but the one man advantage meant that India were able to thwart the efforts.

At the other end, India’s second half substitute Aman added salt to the wounds in injury time, netting the fourth goal, after he was set through behind the Nepal defence. The result was beyond doubt by the end, as India successfully defended their title.

India captain Vanlalpeka Guite was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, while goalkeeper Sahil won the Best Goalkeeper awards.

“I am extremely proud of my boys. There has been a lot of hard work put in, and every support staff, and player deserves equal credit,” said head coach Bibiano Fernandes.

“The efforts put in by AIFF at the youth level by providing us continuous exposure tours with help from SAI has helped the boys mature,” he added.

ALSO READ-Phogat wins bronze at World Wrestling Championships

Categories
-Top News Asia News Nepal

Nepal, India hold talks on bilateral ties

The Foreign Secretaries discussed early conclusion of the Transit Treaty including its Protocol and the Memorandum to the Protocol and expediting the review of the Treaty of Trade…reports Asian Lite News

Nepal and India discussed matters pertaining to bilateral and mutual interests during the Foreign Secretary-level talks in New Delhi.

At the invitation of his Indian counterpart Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Poudyal arrived in New Delhi and held the bilateral talks at Hyderabad House on Tuesday where two sides discussed a wide range of issues and issues related to mutual interest and concerns, according to statements issued by New Delhi and Kathmandu.

The Foreign Secretaries discussed multiple areas of cooperation between Nepal and India covering trade, transit, connectivity, infrastructure, power sector, irrigation and inundation, agriculture, investment, development cooperation, health sector cooperation, culture, and people to people relations, among others, a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi said.

“They reviewed the progress on the discussions held during the high-level visits of the Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba to India on April 1-3 and of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Lumbini, Nepal on May 16. The two Foreign Secretaries discussed the ways and means to build on momentum generated by those visits. They also discussed cooperation on multilateral forums,” the statement added.

Kwatra and Poudyal also expressed satisfaction at the progress made in different areas including power sector, construction of transmission line, railway connectivity, construction of ICPs, mototable bridge and other important infrastructures.

They also discussed early conclusion of the Transit Treaty including its Protocol and the Memorandum to the Protocol and expediting the review of the Treaty of Trade, said the statement issued by the Nepali side.

Matters related to fertilizers supply, waiver of export restrictions in wheat, sugar, paddy, and rice were on the agenda as well.

Nepal is expecting to receive fertilizer from India on an annual basis and is seeking the waiver of some essential items that India has put a ban for exporting following the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Recalling the outcome of high-level visits, both sides discussed seamless power trade under mutually beneficial arrangement, the statement issued by the Nepali side said, the two Foreign Secretaries also discussed the boundary matters.

In this regard, they exchanged views on completing the boundary works on remaining segments through established bilateral mechanisms, the Nepali statement added.

Similarly, according to the Indian statement, two Foreign Secretaries reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal, including economic and commercial cooperation, enhancing connectivity, development cooperation, trade, culture and people-people relations.

“Recent progress in bilateral cooperation in the power sector including through export of power from Nepal to India was appreciated. It was also agreed that both sides will work to further strengthen such cooperation in keeping with the Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation adopted during the visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India in April 2022. Both sides welcomed the recent signing of the MoUs between NHPC, India and IBN, Nepal on the development of West Seti and SR-6 projects,” said the statement.

During the meeting, in terms of connectivity projects, the progress made in operationalisation of Kurta-Bijalpura segment of Jayanagar-Bardibas rail link and Bathnaha-Nepal Custom Yard segment of Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link, which are significant steps in further strengthening the people-people links, was noted with satisfaction.

“The Nepali side appreciated the Covid-19 assistance provided by India during the pandemic and also thanked the Indian side for keeping the supply lines of trade open, even during the peak of the lock down,” said a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

To further strengthen people-people links, both sides agreed to expeditiously progress on project proposals for the Ramayana Circuit, said the ministry.

Both sides also agreed to expeditiously implement extension of petroleum pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Chitwan and construction of an LPG pipeline from Motihari to Chitwan, the Indian statement added.

Poudyal is scheduled to call on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Nepal, China ink 6-point agreement under BRI

Categories
-Top News Nepal

Nepal, China ink 6-point agreement under BRI

The MoU between the two Parliaments also mentions the BRI, an ambitious project promoted by China…reports Asian Lite News

Nepal and China have signed a six-point agreement under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to increase the countries’ engagements and exchanges on governance, legislative and supervisory practices.

Parliament Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s NPC, signed the agreement at an event held on Monday evening at the Federal Parliament Building in Kathmandu.

According to the agreement, the two sides will exchange information on each other’s legislative, supervisory and governance practices.

Li is in Kathmandu on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Sapkota.

As soon as he landed in Kathmandu leading a 67-member delegation, Sapkota and Li held delegation-level talks followed by the signing of the agreement.

The MoU between the two Parliaments also mentions the BRI, an ambitious project promoted by China.

Nepal and China had signed the BRI in 2017 but no substantive progress has been made in the last five years.

According to the agreement, the two governments would accord priority and facilitate promotion of relationship, mutual benefits and commitments between the two countries, including through the BRI, the fifth point of the MoU read.

During the talks, the two dignitaries while expressing happiness over the excellent state of bilateral relations and cooperation subsisting between Nepal and China, held discussions on different matters of mutual interests, said the Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu.

In the meeting, Sapkota reiterated Nepal’s commitment to ‘One China’ Policy and not to allow any activity against Beijing in Nepali territory.

Li expressed China’s continued support for Nepal’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, the Foreign Ministry added.

Sapkota appreciated the people and the Chinese government for their generous support and cooperation to the Himalayan nation’s development endeavour and expressed hope for an enhanced level of support from Beijing for post-pandemic recovery and other development priorities.

He added that the people and government of Nepal are grateful to the Chinese government for with a substantial amount of medical supplies, equipment and vaccines during the pandemic.

“During the meeting, both sides agreed to further strengthen inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation. They also underscored the role of Parliamentary Friendship Group in each other’s parliament in further promoting goodwill and understanding between the two legislatures,” said the Ministry statement.

Li also promised to provide assistance to the Nepali Parliament as per its need and requirement at the institution level.

The two diplomats also exchanged views on the importance of implementing connectivity infrastructures, including under the BRI, the statement said.

On the request of the Nepali delegation, the Chinese side also assured that it will take necessary measures to address the widening trade gaps between the two countries and encourage its entrepreneurs to invest in Nepal, particularly in areas that support the livelihood of the Nepali people.

Similarly, both parties have agreed to strengthen cooperation under the framework of international and regional parliamentary organizations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, on matters of common interest.

On Tuesday, the second day of his visit, Li will call on the Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Timilsina at the parliament building following meetings with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre).

Later, Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka will call on Li at Hotel Soaltee. He will then meet Prime Minister Deuba again and discuss the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nepal and China.

On Wednesday, the Chinese delegation will see President Bidya Devi Bhandari and visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

The delegation will leave for South Korea after rounding up the Nepal trip on Thursday.

Li is the third high-level visit from China after the formation of the incumbent government in July last year.

ALSO READ: Breakthrough in India-China border talks

Categories
-Top News India News Nepal

Indian Army Chief in Kathmandu

Continuing a tradition of friendship between both armies, the Indian Army chief will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army on September 5 in a ceremony at Sital Nivas…reports Asian Lite News

Indian Army chief, Gen Manoj Pande arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday.

In his visit, made at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart, Gen Prabhu Ram Sharma, he is leading an 11-member delegation.

During his visit, General Pande will call on the President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba who is also the Defence Minister, and will hold delegation- level talks with his counterpart, Gen Sharma, where both sides will discuss wide range to issues related to military and defence cooperation, according to Nepal Army.

It is expected that both sides will discuss Agnipath, the Indian government’s new recruitment scheme for soldiers under which 75 per cent will be retired after serving four years and get a gratuity, while the remaining 25 per cent will get a chance to serve full term and get pension.

Nepali youths have also been recruited in the Indian Army for a long time but now, Nepal is hesitant to go on, due to the new scheme. The Nepal government has not allowed the recruitment process requested from the Indian side.

Nepali officials said that besides other regular military and defence issues between Nepal and India, the Agnipath scheme will also be discussed during the visit.

Continuing a tradition of friendship between both armies, the Indian Army chief will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army on September 5 in a ceremony at Sital Nivas, the official residence of the President.

According to the itinerary, Pande is scheduled to visit the Nepal Army headquarters where he will pay homage to fallen soldiers and have interactions with the senior leadership of the Nepali Army. He will hand over 10 armoured personnel carriers to Nepal Army as a gift from Indian Army.

During his visit, Pande will also interact with the student officers and faculty of the Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivpuri. He is also scheduled to call on the Prime Minister Deuba on September 6.

“India-Nepal relations are historic, multifaceted and marked by common cultural and civilisational ties, apart from mutual respect and trust. India attaches highest priority to its relationship with Nepal in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies. This visit will provide an opportunity to take stock of the existing bilateral defence ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” said a statement issued by India’s Ministry of Defence ahead of his Nepal visit.

ALSO READ: Hasina’s India visit to bolster energy, food security ties

Categories
-Top News Asia News Nepal

Two key communist parties in Nepal head for merger

The CPN (US) is a new political party formed after splitting from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) led by KP Sharma Oli….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal’s two ruling communist parties the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) have decided to contest upcoming general elections with a common manifesto.

The CPN (MC) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda and CPN (US) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal are the two key constituents of the Deuba-led coalition government which came into existence in July 2021, succeeding the government headed by KP Sharma Oli.

The CPN (MC) and CPN (US) have a plan to merge and form a new communist party after general elections are held in November, leaders said.

“We will contest general elections with a common manifesto and our ultimate goal is to unify and launch a new party immediately after elections,” Narayan Kaji Shrestha, a senior vice president of the CPN (MC) said.

The CPN (US) is a new political party formed after splitting from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) led by KP Sharma Oli.

Beduram Bhusal, general secretary of CPN (US), said that a coordination committee has been formed by their party to intensify talks with the CPN (Maoist Center) for the unification after elections.

“Our ultimate goal is to bring all the communist parties under an umbrella for the sake of the country’s political stability. If that can’t be achieved immediately, like-minded communist parties should contest elections with a common manifesto,” Bhusal said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, a meeting between the co-chairs of the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) decided to chalk out strategies for the elections with a common manifesto. The co-chairs also decided to unify and merge their two parties after elections.

Although the two ruling parties have planned to unify after elections, they will remain part of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Deuba.

According to observers, there are two reasons why the ruling Maoist Center is now talking about launching the common manifesto CPN (Unified Socialist) and go for the party unification after elections.

“The first is the Maoist Centre is now seeking to form a largest communist front minus the CPN-UML led by KP Sharma Oli. This will keep the main opposition CPN-UML in check. Second, it wants to block the Nepali Congress from winning close to majority seats,” Sitaram Baral, a political analyst based in Kathmandu said.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) also has reasons to contest elections under a common manifesto and ultimately go for the unification with the Maoist Center.

“The Unified Socialist, whose performance in last local level elections was poor, wants to secure good seats in federal and provincial elections. The party also wants to keep the CPN-UML in check in the coming days,” Baral observed.

Nepal is holding provincial level and federal level elections on November 20 in a single phase.

Earlier in the first week of August, the ruling coalition had decided to continue the alliance until elections.

As per the understanding reached among five coalition partners in the Nepali Congress-led ruling alliance, a taskforce is presently working to finalize the modality of the seat-sharing arrangements in the elections.

As 86 days are left for holding of the provincial and federal elections, political parties have started their election campaigns across the country.

According to the constitution, Nepal holds local, provincial and federal elections every five years. This is the second time the Himalayan country holds federal and provincial elections after it adopted its first democratic republic constitution in September 2015.

ALSO READ: Nepal govt in a fix over India’s Agnipath scheme

Categories
-Top News China Nepal

One China policy: China lauds Nepal’s commitment

Nepal has time and again committed to the “one China” policy but Beijing often times expressed its discontent over Nepal’s commitment after one after another high-level visits from the US…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi said on Wednesday that his country highly appreciates Nepal’s longstanding commitment to the “one China” principle and resolute opposition to “Taiwan’s Independence”.

Issuing a statement after US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and muscle-flexing between US and the China continues, Beijing wants to see Nepal’s support in its direct confrontation against the US. But, the Nepal government has not made any official position on ongoing face-off between China and the US.

After completing the two-day Taiwan visit, Pelosi left for South Korea on Wednesday evening.

Ambassador Hou said that China and Nepal are good neighbors, trustworthy friends, and reliable partners linked by mountains and rivers. The two countries have always understood and supported each other on issues of core interests concerning respective sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, he said.

Nepal has time and again committed to the “one China” policy but Beijing often times expressed its discontent over Nepal’s commitment after one after another high-level visits from the US, Nepal’s acceptance of US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation among others.

Nancy Pelosi (Picture Credits: https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1554496902812602370)

The “one China” policy is also the political foundation of China-Nepal relations, said Hou adding that they believe that the government of Nepal and its people will continue to abide by the principle and understand and support China’s legitimate and justified position and work together with China to defend each other’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

“The position of the Chinese Government and people on the Taiwan question has been consistent. It is the firm commitment of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the common aspiration and sacred responsibility of all Chinese sons and daughters to realise the complete reunification of the motherland,” the Ambassador said.

China will definitely take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the US Speaker’s visit, she said.

ALSO READ: South Korea urges for China-Taiwan peace

Categories
-Top News India News Nepal

Drop in India-Nepal cross-border marriages worries experts

Experts and analysts from both India and Nepal have underlined the need to not just enhance people to people contact but also putting in place pro-active measures by New Delhi and Kathmandu…reports Mahua Venkatesh

At a time when India and Nepal are looking to deepen political as well as economic cooperation amid rapid geopolitical shifts, the two countries must prioritise dealing with the issue of perception that people from both sides of the border have about each other and more importantly the governments. Despite the two countries sharing an open border policy, mutual distrust has dominated the political landscape from time to time leading to a steady drop in cross border marriages.

Vijay Kant Karna, Executive Chairman, Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism in Kathmandu said that the declining number of cross border marriages is an indication of a social alteration based on the existing “perception and attitude”.

In 2020, the Nepali parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the Nepalese former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli, perceived to be close to the Chinese government, approved the proposal to amend the Citizenship Act which made it mandatory for a foreign woman marrying a citizen of the country to wait seven years to get citizenship.

This added to the problem.

“Perception — for both countries — needs to change. The way forward is boosting connectivity but at the same time, the governments of the two neighbours need to carefully carve out a mechanism which will lay the roadmap for cooperation. India and Nepal must maintain stable political relation based on mutual trust and respect,” Karna, Executive Chairman, Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism in Kathmandu said at an event — ‘India-Nepal Development Partnership: Economic Challenges and Opportunities’ organised by Indian Council of World Affairs.

Experts and analysts from both India and Nepal have underlined the need to not just enhance people to people contact but also putting in place pro-active measures by New Delhi and Kathmandu to address the elephant in the room.

Karna noted that the thrust on railway and road connectivity will go a long way in boosting connectivity, which is critical in the wake of the current geopolitical challenges. The bulk of Nepal’s transit trade takes place through India. As per estimates about 6 to 8 million of Nepalese are employed in India.

Nihar Nayak, Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses also said that timely competition of all pending projects by the Indians were critical to change the existing perception.

In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba jointly inaugurated the 35 km long transboundary Janakpur-Jayanagar railway service and RuPay digital payment system in Nepal. Though the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda covering political, economic, trade, energy, security and developmental issues, experts said that hurdles relating to corruption, bureaucratic and security hassles on the ground continue to plague citizens at the border points.

Besides, Indian businesses must also play a more aggressive role in the internal bidding process for infrastructure and other developmental projects.

Earlier, a study by the Observer Foundation Research (ORF) pointed out that though social and economic integration between the two countries, “informal ties and the simplicity of those traditional businesses have been under stress.”

ALSO READ: Nepal, India ink fertiliser deal

Categories
-Top News Asia News Nepal

Nepal, India ink fertiliser deal

The agreement states that Nepal will be able to purchase 150,000 tons of crop nutrients 100,000 tons of urea and 50,000 tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP)-from India in the first year….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal has signed a much-awaited commercial agreement with India for the supply of chemical fertilisers for the next five years, officials said on Thursday.

The long term deal signed between Nepal’s Krishi Samagri Company Limited and India’s Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited will allow Nepal to buy about 900,000 tons of chemical fertilisers for the next five years.

In recent years, Nepali farmers have been facing severe shortages of chemical fertilisers during planting season.

The agreement states that Nepal will be able to purchase 150,000 tons of crop nutrients�100,000 tons of urea and 50,000 tons of diammonium phosphate (DAP)-from India in the first year.

In the second year, the country will be able to buy 170,000 tons, in the third year 195,000 tons, and in the fourth and fifth years, 210,000 tons each.

“To minimise the uncertainty and assure the timely supply of fertilizers to the farmers of Nepal for the next 5 years, an agreement has been signed between Nepal and India,” Nepal’s ambassador to New Delhi Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma said on Twitter on Thursday.

The agreement follows a government-to-government deal, which was signed in February this year.

Rajendra Bahadur Karki, general manager of Krishi Samagri Company, said that the Indian side will deliver fertilisers at various border areas including Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bhairahawa.

The general manager said that Nepal will start the procurement to avail fertilizers for the wheat plantation season.

“The Indian company will begin supplying fertilizers 30 days after getting the supply order from us,” he said.

Ram Prasad Subedi, deputy chief of mission at the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi, said that the commercial agreement for the supply of chemical fertilizers to Nepal is welcome news for Nepali farmers.

“The negotiation took place for a couple of months between the two sides to finalize the commercial agreement on the purchase of chemical fertilizers. We also sincerely thank the Indian government for its warm cooperation to finalise this much-awaited deal,” he told India Narrative over phone.

Earlier in June, a Nepali delegation led by then Agriculture Minister Mahendra Yadav visited New Delhi to finalise the commercial agreement for the supply of chemical fertilizers, targeting the paddy transplantation season which begins in mid-June. However, the two sides had failed to sign commercial agreements on time owing to legal constraints.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: Nepal crackdown on call centers owned by Chinese

Categories
-Top News Asia News Nepal

Nepal crackdown on call centers owned by Chinese

On Monday, the police conducted raids in two call centres occupied by Chinese nationals whose owner was an Indian national too….reports Asian Lite News

Nepal Police has continued its raids against illegal call centres owned by Chinese nationals.

On Wednesday night, a raid was conducted at a call centre in Kathmandu’s Thamel area following which four Chinese nationals were arrested.

The raid in Thamel, a popular tourist area, was the fourth to be carried out within a week.

On Monday, the police conducted raids in two call centres occupied by Chinese nationals whose owner was an Indian national too.

On Sunday, on a similar kind of raid was carried out in Butwal near Nepal-India border, leading to the arrest of Chinese and Indian nationals.

Police also seized 26 laptops, 472 mobile phones, recharge cards worth Rs 190,000, 20 SIM cards, and other equipment from the Chinese nationals.

The Chinese nationals were operating a call centre in Kathmandu and illegally providing loans to Indian citizens at high-interest rates.

According to the police, thousands of Indian citizens including Nepalis have been cheated by this call centre.

The police informed that the gang had been running a fraud business for months sending messages through social media saying that they have won a lottery, hacking other people’s social networks including Facebook, and asking for a certain amount of money to collect lottery tickets and goods.

The police are now investigating using the details they got from the laptop, desktop, CPU, mobile, pen drive, various hard disks, iPads.

After the arrest, Indian citizen Niranjan Kumar stated that their head office is in China and they also have call centres in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.

The Nepal Police, on December 23, 2019, arrested 122 Chinese nationals from all over the Kathmandu Valley.

The operation, the largest one against any foreign nationals in Nepal’s history, apparently continues and at least 800 more Chinese nationals are being watched currently.

ALSO READ: Stateless children to benefit from Nepal’s amended citizenship act

Categories
-Top News Asia News Nepal

Stateless children to benefit from Nepal’s amended citizenship act


The progress on the bill is significant as it comes ahead of Nepal’s general election that is due later this year…writes Santosh Ghimire

Nepal’s parliament has passed a bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 2006, paving the way for thousands of children of parents who were citizens by birth to acquire citizenship by descent.

The House of Representatives, the lower house of Nepali parliament, endorsed the much-debated bill on Friday through a majority vote despite reservations from the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist). The bill will go into implementation once it is approved by the National Assembly, the upper house, according to authorities.

The progress on the bill is significant as it comes ahead of Nepal’s general election that is due later this year.

All eligible Nepali citizens born before September 20, 2015, the day when the Constitution of Nepal was promulgated, were granted naturalised citizenship. However, their children were not getting citizenship due to lack of a law as the constitution stated that the provision to grant them citizenship would be directed by a federal law. The country has yet to formulate the federal law even seven years after the promulgation of the national constitution.

According to Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, 190,000 individuals had acquired naturalised citizenship by birth.

Nepal



What are major changes in the new amendment?

Once the amendment bill is approved by the upper house, one born to a Nepali woman in Nepal and whose father is unidentified would get citizenship by descent, according to the text of the bill which is now public. However, the applicant’s mother needs to make a mandatory self-declaration that the father is not recognised. The mother will be liable for action if it is found that her claim that the father of her issue is not identified turns out to be wrong.

As per the new bill, foreign men married to Nepali women must have resided for 15 years continuously in Nepal, renounced the citizenship of their country of origin, and be able to speak Nepali language to qualify for naturalisation.

The bill has also paved the way for non-resident Nepali nationals to acquire citizenship. According to the text of the bill, the non-resident Nepali nationals, however, will not be eligible to enjoy the political and administrative rights. It is estimated that over 5 million Nepali nationals are living in different parts of the world including neighbouring India.

The latest development on citizenship is also a big relief for thousands of people in Nepal who had been rendered stateless due to non-enactment of the new citizenship law.

Years of debate over citizenship resolved now there had been debate in Nepal’s parliament for years on whether to grant naturalised citizenship to foreign women married to Nepali men once they start the process to relinquish the citizenship of the country of their origin.



Last time in June 2020, the parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee held discussions on the issue. However, parliamentarians of then ruling Nepal Communist Party and then opposition Nepali Congress were sharply divided particularly with a provision that foreign women married to Nepali men would have to wait for seven years for naturalisation.

The lawmakers of the Nepali Congress along with two Terai-based parties-Rashtriya Janata Party and Samajbadi Party, were in favour of retaining the provision of granting citizenship once the woman started the process to renounce citizenship of her country of origin.

However, the then ruling Nepal Communist Party did not agree on the opposition parties’ stance, citing the example of India where it takes seven years to grant citizenship to foreign women married to Indian men. The ruling party argued that Nepal too should have a similar provision. As parliamentarians failed to forge consensus on this particular provision, the bill was endorsed through a majority from the parliamentary committee only, not forwarding the bill to the House of Representatives.

Last July, the present Nepali Congress government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba withdrew the citizenship bill from the House and registered a new one retaining the provision to grant citizenship to foreign women married to Nepali men once she starts the process to give up citizenship of her country.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

ALSO READ: Nepal looks at tourism revival