Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli will initiate political discussion to forge consensus on citizenship bill. He has invited Nepali Congress (NC) leaders to Baluwatar later on Thursday to discuss about the bill.
The bill is under consideration in the State Affairs Committee of the parliament since August 21, 2018. The committee has yet to reach consensus on providing naturalized citizenship to those marrying a Nepali citizen.
Deputy parliamentary party leader of CPN Subash Chandra Nembang told Setopati that CPN Chairman Oli and other leaders will meet with NC leaders to discuss contemporary issues including the citizenship bill.
The State Affairs Committee on Wednesday had instructed the government to forge consensus on the citizenship bill within five days.
The committee last discussed on the proposal to provide citizenship to any woman marrying a Nepali man only seven years after marriage.
But the committee failed to forge consensus. Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had said time is needed as citizenship is a sensitive issue. The discussion on the bill was again extended after Minister Thapa demanded time.
Committee Chairperson Shashi Shrestha had asked how consensus can be forged. CPN lawmaker Janardan Sharma in response had said there is no alternative to political consensus.
Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Dilendra Badu had concurred and asked for consensus among the top political leadership on the issue of citizenship. "The bill should be passed from this House session," Shrestha had said after the discussion. "Let the government forge consensus on the issue within five days."
The bill has been stuck in the House in the name of consensus.
