A meeting of the National Assembly held on Thursday endorsed the Nepal Citizenship (first amendment) Bill, 2079 with majority votes.

Home Minister Balkrishna Khand had presented the proposal, seeking its passage in the NA meeting.

Earlier, responding to the queries raised by the NA members on the bill, Minister Khand said that the bill on amendment of citizenship act was brought to ensure citizenship certificates to millions of Nepali youths, who had been deprived of it even seven years after the country introduced a new constitution.

He made it clear that the bill was brought by holding adequate discussions with the ruling and opposition parties.

The people deprived of citizenship certificates were frustrated, he said, urging the lawmakers to forge consensus on the points agreed so far, while the points that need additional homework can be sorted out gradually.

He further made it clear that initially, the bill had not mentioned naturalized citizenship (by marriage). The citizenship bill was initially registered at parliament in 2075BS.