Lalitpur: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that individuals who have acquired foreign citizenship cannot be granted Nepali citizenship. He made this remark during a book launch program for ‘Sugauli Treaty and Citizenship in Nepal’ held in Lalitpur on Saturday.

Deuba acknowledged the sentiment of British Gurkha soldiers who have demanded the continuation of their Nepali citizenship. However, he clarified that once foreign citizenship is obtained, Nepali citizenship cannot be retained. He suggested that alternative provisions, such as the Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) citizenship, could be considered for other purposes, but emphasized that granting full citizenship could create complications for a small country like Nepal.

“While it’s natural for British Gurkha soldiers to want to retain Nepali citizenship, doing so after taking foreign citizenship is not possible,” Deuba said. “However, the demand for equal service benefits for British Gurkhas, similar to their British counterparts, is something I fully support.”

He further added that discussions among political parties are ongoing regarding the citizenship issue raised by British Gurkhas and expressed hope that a parliamentary conclusion will be reached soon.

Deuba praised the historical significance of the Gurkha legacy, calling it a source of national pride. He highlighted the Gurkhas’ role in strengthening Nepal’s international presence and particularly in maintaining and expanding Nepal-UK relations.