KATHMANDU, Nov 13: At a time when most of the Madhes-based parties are demanding amendments to the constitution to allow naturalized citizens to head key state posts, the chairman of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (Democratic) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar has said that key state posts cannot be given to naturalized citizens.
Speaking at a press conference organized in Nepalgunj on Sunday, Gachchhadar argued that no such provision exists in other countries in the world as well. "Naturalized citizens are not allowed to head key state posts in any countries in the world. Even in India, one must be a citizen by descent for heading some key positions," he said.
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However, Gachchhadar said they could be generous to naturalized citizens over a few posts if there is consensus among all political parties. "We can be generous enough over some posts. But that needs consensus among all political parties," he said, while adding that the provisions set in the interim constitution are good.
The constitution promulgated last year bars naturalized citizens from assuming various key state the post including president, vice president, prime minister, speaker, chief minister, governor, and chiefs of security agencies.
Gachchhadar also criticized the government's preparations to deploy mobile citizenship distribution camps. "In the current situation, there is no need to mobilize citizenship teams to distribute citizenship," he said. Since the government is distributing citizenship certificates through the District Administration Office, and the Area Administration Offices are distributing citizenship certificates as per the needs, there is no point in distributing citizenship certificates through mobile camps.
On the occasion, Gachchhadar argued that the current government had failed to do anything significant in its 100 days. "The government has failed to achieve consensus for amending the constitution. The visit of the Indian president to Nepal alone is no ground for the government to claim success," he further said.
Gachchhadar reached Nepalgunj to inaugurate three-party orientation of party cadres, according to MPRF-D Banke district chairman Phularam Tharu.
