Kathmandu, June 24:

People from different walks of life today said that voting rights should be given to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN) and their representation in the Constituent Assembly (CA) ensured through constitutional amendment.

They were addressing an interaction on ‘Voting Right and the Representation of the NRNs

in the CA Polls’, organised by Mainstream All India Nepali Unity Society (MAINUS), Association of NRN India (ANRNI) and Nepali Public Relation Committee India (NPRCI).

Lauding the role played by the NRNs in making the Jana Andolan II successful, Chhabi Lal Biswokarma, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, said that the constitution will not be a complete document unless the government ensures voting rights to the NRNs through constitutional amendment.

“Granting of voting rights to the NRNs and their representation in the CA is very important,” he said.

Chitra Bahadur KC, a member of parliament, said, “The government does not work until pressure is piled on it through street protests.”

Dambar Giri of the FNJ said, “The eight parties are not concerned about the issues of the NRNs”, though the latter played a significant role in making the Jana Andolan II a success.

Bishwo Kanta Mainali, president of the Nepal Bar Association, accused the members of parliament of being “very irresponsible and trying to divide the nation into different states.”

Ram Lal Kafle, president of the ANRNI, said, “By providing shelter to Nepali agitators, the NRNs played a great role during the Jana Andolan II. Honouring their contribution, the government should give them the voting rights.”