KATHMANDU:- Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said that the government is fully committed to protecting the rights, interests and entitlements of Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs).

In a discussion held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Minister Khanal expressed his commitment to move forward by revising the bill in accordance with the sentiments and expectations of the NRNs, informed Som Sapkota, spokesperson for the association.

Minister Khanal pointed out the need to more clearly address the aspirations of the constitution from both conceptual and practical perspectives, and said that the government is committed to making the act effective by incorporating the rights, roles and contributions of non-resident Nepalis.

In the discussion, the association’s president, Dr. Hemraj Sharma, commented that the initial draft currently presented by the government was “retrogressive in nature” and urged that the draft prepared by the Law Commission be used as a basis for moving forward.

The association has suggested that there is a need to include the aspirations of non-resident Nepalis while maintaining harmony with the social, economic and cultural rights enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai had stated that the ministry has considered the NRN as a trusted partner and expressed confidence that the cooperation will be further strengthened in the coming days.

At the program, founding president Upendra Mahato, outgoing president Dr. Badri KC, former president Kul Acharya, founding international coordinator Bhim Udas, vice president Rojina Pradhan Rai, and vice president Buddhi Subedi presented their suggestions on the draft act.