Stateless youths staged a sit-in protest in Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu on Tuesday in protest of the delay in authenticating the bill to amend citizenship provisions.

Citing that the citizenship bill is the driving force of their destiny and future, the youths have urged President Bidya Devi Bhandari to authenticate the bill.

Today is the last day of the 15 days the president has to authenticate the bill.

The bill, Nepal Citizenship Act (2006) Amendment Bill 2022, passed by both the houses of the federal parliament is awaiting authentication by the president to become a law.

Although the constitution of Nepal says the children of parents who have acquired citizenship by birth will get citizenship by descent, hundreds of thousands of youths are deprived of citizenship for a lack of law.

“We have been protesting for years, not just now. We have met all the leaders from the prime minister to former prime ministers and we have stated our demand,” said Indrajit Safi, president of the Citizenshipless Struggle Committee. “Our demands are in line with the constitution. After a long struggle, the Citizenship Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament, but the president withdrew it and darkened our future. Again, the same bill has been passed by the parliament and reached her table.”

Here are some photos from the ground by Post photographer Sanjog Manandhar.