KATHMANDU, July 15: The lawmakers have demanded removal of biased provisions that set different conditions while conferring citizenship to any person in the name of mother and father.

Taking part in the discussion on the Bill designed to amend the Citizenship Act in the House of Representatives on Thursday, the lawmakers stressed that no one should be left stateless. 

Lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa said that there should not be any inquiry on father's name  while conferring citizenship certificates to any person on mother's name. The woman having children with no identity of their father should not be hassled while giving citizenship certificates to her children.

Lawmaker Bimala BK said one can acquire citizenship certificates on mother's name only when his/her father is not identified. “Otherwise it is illegal for him/her to apply for citizenship. This provision in the bill needs to be wiped out,” said BK.

Lawmaker Sujita Shakya said no one from the country should be deprived of citizenship certificate.

Prem Suwal, however, said the foreigner marrying a Nepali citizen could be conferred on the citizenship after 20 years' of stay in Nepal and taking a language test.

Bhimsen Das Pradhan stated that the third gender people should be provided citizenship certificates without any hassle and barrier. The House of Representatives will meet again at 1:00 PM today.

 
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