Birgunj, August 1

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel today said his party would not agree to give major posts to individuals with naturalised citizenship certificates.

He further stated provisions allowing naturalised citizens to hold the major posts would displace the indigenous people of Tarai.

Speaking at the inauguration of his party’s extended meeting in Province 2 in Birgunj, Pokhrel said, “UML will not agree to allowing persons with naturalised citizenship to hold the posts of prime minister, chief justice, vice-president, president, speaker, chiefs of security organ, province chief and speaker of provincial assembly as such a move will displace the indigenous people of Tarai”.

Stating that various rumours had been circulating regarding the citizenship issue in the plains, Pokhrel argued that no statute in the world was as liberal as Nepal’s. “We have to make people understand that our statute is liberal and has guaranteed rights to the people,” he added.

Pokhrel said his party would emerge as the largest party in the civic polls in Province 2. “People’s attraction towards the UML is on the rise in the Tarai. No alliance of any size or shape can defeat the UML in Province 2,” he added.

Noting that his party had trounced all sorts of alliances in the earlier civic polls held in six provinces, Pokhrel claimed that his party would clinch victory in Province 2. He claimed that his party would secure majority in all three sets of polls.