"Are Overseas Nepalis Less Nepali?" — MP Tamang Questions New Regulations

Kathmandu: Ashika Tamang, a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has expressed serious objections to Nepal's current legal framework, specifically the latest amendment to the Nepal Citizenship Regulations.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the 'National Commitment Letter' released by the government on Tuesday, she commented via Facebook that certain provisions of the regulations discriminate against non-resident Nepalis. 

MP Tamang pointed out that Rule 7(a) and related procedures stipulate that individuals must wait three months after renouncing foreign Permanent Residency (PR) to become eligible for certain political and administrative rights, a move she says raises serious questions. "Is a Nepali living abroad less of a Nepali than one living at home?" she questioned.

She mentioned that while Nepalis abroad may have left the country due to necessity or opportunity, they never abandoned their identity or love for their nation. "Holding their Nepali passports and citizenship close to their hearts, whether in harsh deserts or modern cities, they are breathing life into Nepal's economy with their sweat," she wrote.

Tamang alleged that although Article 10 of the Constitution of Nepal clearly states that no Nepali citizen shall be deprived of the right to citizenship, citizens are being treated with suspicion in practice simply because they hold a PR. "Imposing a 'wait and watch' policy on one's own citizens regarding services and rights cannot be justified," she stated.

MP Tamang clarified that obtaining a PR is not about forgetting one's country but is merely a means to ease life and struggle, adding that even if the body is abroad, the heart, love, and identity always remain in Nepal. She expressed the view that it is unjust to set time limits for rights in their own country for citizens who are filling the nation's coffers through remittances.

She expressed surprise that the government's latest commitment letter failed to adequately address the legal and practical problems of Nepalis living abroad. "We made plans for those inside the country, but why did we forget the pillars who are providing economic shelter to the nation?" she asked.

She clarified that while her primary duty as a representative is to protect the national interest, arrangements that make one's own citizens feel like second-class citizens or push them away are unacceptable. She emphasized that overseas Nepalis should be viewed with respect rather than suspicion.

MP Tamang mentioned that the time has come to make laws not just tough in writing but also just in practice, stating that policies should reflect the self-respect of every Nepali. "Nepal does not belong only to those living here; it belongs to every Nepali who keeps Nepal alive in their heart while living abroad," she said.