KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stated that the draft of the Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Bill, which has been made public for discussion, will undergo extensive deliberations with representatives from all relevant stakeholders.

During a meeting at the Ministry on Thursday with a delegation led by Vice Chairman and Senior Advocate Sushil Kumar Panta on behalf of the Association of Nepali Origin (ANO) Central Committee, Minister Khanal clarified that the currently published text is essentially a “zero draft.”

He assured that it will only be presented to Parliament after thoroughly discussing it with all concerned parties.

The ANO had drawn Minister Khanal’s attention to the public draft, arguing that several clauses are impractical and insufficient for connecting the Nepali diaspora with their homeland.

While receiving the ANO’s memorandum, Khanal shared that he has already prepared a questionnaire regarding the bill.

He reassured the delegation that feedback and suggestions would be gathered from all stakeholders before the bill is officially tabled in Parliament.

During the meeting, Vice Chairman Panta emphasized that the proposed law must serve as a long-term bridge connecting the “Nepali spirit and Nepali heart” to Nepal.

According to the memorandum submitted by the ANO, there is a critical need to amend the definition of “persons of Nepali origin” and to broaden the scope through extensive discussions and revisions to address the needs of diaspora Nepalis extending beyond the third generation.

The delegation included ANO General Secretary Chudamani Bhattarai, Board of Trustees member Babu Krishna Karki, and ANO Nepal President Krishna Prasad Sapkota, among others.