At a time when President Ramchandra Paudel has drawn flak for authenticating the citizenship bill and pardoning Resham Chaudhary, the Nepali Congress has come in his defence, saying the President has just fulfilled his constitutional duties.

Issuing a statement on Saturday, the ruling party said the President served the constitutional duty of protecting the sovereignty of the Parliament and safeguarding the constitution, as well as strengthening national unity by averting a constitutional crisis.

Stating that the President can’t return the bill to the Parliament that was already forwarded to the office by completing the due process, the party said sending back the bill to Parliament would be a ridiculous step.

The Cabinet just reminded the President of the state of the bill, said Congress, the largest party in the Parliament.

The party has claimed that there was no point in making a fuss by criticising the President for pardoning Resham Chaudhary on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers as per the demand of all political parties.

It is regrettable that unnecessary and meaningless accusations have been levelled against a respected institution like the President, the statement states.

President Paudel on Wednesday had authenticated the citizenship bill which former President Bidya Devi Bhandari had twice refused to endorse. Paudel pardoned Tikapur killings convict Chaudhary on the occasion of Republic Day on May 29.

The party’s statement has come a day after the party’s general secretary Gagan Thapa criticised the decision to authenticate the citizenship bill and pardon Chaudhary.