CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel stated that the case against Rabi Lamichhane’s citizenship was brought with the intention of changing the power equation.
“That [Lamichhane’s citizenship] he became a problem thinking that maybe he could change the power equation. But it will not work as they expected,” Pokharel told the Nepal News Agency.
He said Lamichhane’s citizenship case will not change the power equation.
“The political mission will not be derailed by issues raised by judicial proceedings. The problems will be resolved,” Pokharel said. “It is a common practice that many people living abroad with PR automatically become Nepali citizens upon return to Nepal.”
“The active role shown by the Supreme Court in Rabi Lamichhane’s citizenship case is miraculous,” Pokharel said.
He said cases of a similar nature languish in the courts, but many cases are decided quickly.
Lamichhane resigned as deputy prime minister and home minister shortly after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that he was ineligible to become a lawmaker. The court reasoned that Lamichhane was not a Nepali citizen because he had not completed the process to regain Nepali citizenship after renouncing his US citizenship.
He also lost his post as chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party following the court ruling. The party is part of the government headed by Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Lamichhane re-acquired Nepali citizenship from the Kathmandu District Administration Office on Sunday.
