The ruling coalition said that President Bidya Devi Bhandari has grossly insulted and underestimated the Federal Parliament, which was elected by the people, by not authenticating the Citizenship Bill. Issuing a joint statement after a meeting held in Baluwatar this morning, the ruling coalition said that the President, who is supposed to follow and protect the constitution, has attacked the constitutional system. The statement was signed by Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav.

“The President has violated the Constitution by not authenticating the bill, endorsed by both the houses—House of Representatives and National Assembly—within the 15-day time frame,” the statement read, “President Bhandari’s this unconstitutional move has grossly insulted and undervalued the Federal Parliament.”

The alliance has concluded that the children of Nepali mother-father, who have already got the Nepali citizenship, have been deprived of their constitutional right to obtain Nepali citizenship by the recent move of the President. Similarly, the coalition has said that the move has attacked the constitutional supremacy and democratic governance established by the people.