Valley
‘Indian media reports on Nepal are untrue’
Nepali Embassy in New Delhi has said that recent media coverages in India inaccurately highlighting that the Constitution of Nepal is not inclusiveNepali Embassy in New Delhi has said that recent media coverages in India inaccurately highlighting that the Constitution of Nepal is not inclusive and that the provision on citizenship has treated a group of Nepali people as so-called “second class” citizens. Such reports and opinions are completely untrue, the embassy said in a statement. It is surprising to see that some intellectuals, professionals, columnists and reporters in India have taken no time in terming the new constitution as imperfect and less inclusive, the embassy said. “While referring to the citizenship issue, some have even gone to the extent that the current constitution would bar many Madhesi people of Nepal from holding key positions. This is totally false.”
The Nepal mission saidsuch divisive and unsubstantiated comments and opinions on the new constitution might have come without checking facts, reading the text of the constitution and taking into account the reality of ethnic diversity in Nepal. It added that a faithful look into the provision of the constitution would assure anyone that the new constitution of Nepal is one of the most progressive, flexible and inclusive constitutions.
While trying to make its point, the embassy has said, Article 10 of the Constitution of Nepal clearly provides that no Nepali citizen shall be denied the right to acquire citizenship. The subsequent articles on citizenship (Article 11-15) have ensured the constitutional basis for acquiring citizenship, both by decent and naturalization, the embassy explained.
“The citizenship-related provisions in the present constitution are, in fact, the most accommodative provisions relating to the citizenship in the constitutional history of Nepal and guarantee that all Nepalese can achieve the citizenship as per the federal laws,” it claimed.
Just as provided in the constitution of other countries, the constitution of Nepal too has a special provision requiring that a person shall have acquired a citizenship by descent to be elected, nominated and appointed as the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of the Parliament, Chairperson of National Assembly, Head of the Province, Chief Minister, Speaker of Provincial Assembly and chief of security bodies.
The constitution guarantees that every citizen, by descent or naturalisation, shall be equal before law and no person shall be denied the equal protection of law.
There is no question of discriminating its own citizen as “second class”, the embassy reiterated.
“The new constitution reflects the aspirations of the people of Nepal who have waited for over 65 years in writing their constitution through Constituent Assembly; now it has been possible that the constitution has been adopted by the 601-member strong Constituent Assembly with over 92 percent members taking part in the final adoption process.”
It should be recalled that every word and every sentence of the constitution was discussed, debated, cross-referenced, and improved to the best possible outcome through consensus and compromise after taking it to the people for comments and public hearing, said the statement.