KASKI, APR 22 -
Contrary to the trend of Nepali youths seeking to migrate abroad,
British national John Philip Cross, 90, had renounced his British
citizenship 12 years ago in a bid to acquire a Nepali citizenship.
However, his desire has become a distant dream as concerned authorities
have not yet issued him a Nepali citizenship. “My only wish is to be
recognised as a Nepali national and be laid to rest here, in Nepal,”
said Cross, who speaks Nepali like a native.
A World War II veteran, Cross had visited Nepal for the first time at
the invitation of Padam Shamsher Rana in 1947, and was immediately
enticed by the nature, respect and hospitality of Nepali people.
According to Cross, his love for the country had further deepened during
his visit in 1976 as the Chief of the British Camp.
Cross is currently residing at Nayagaun in Pokhara with his adopted son
Buddhiman Gurung Dhampu. Although the late king Birendra Bir Bikram
Shah had arranged for Cross’ stay in Nepal for as long as he wants, he
wishes to remain in the country as a bona fide Nepali citizen, the one
possessing a citizenship card issued by the government.
For the past 38 years, Cross has been visiting the District
Administration Office (DAO) in hopes of obtaining a Nepali citizenship.
He had even requested former prime ministers to provide him with Nepali
citizenship, but to no avail.
Cross, also a philanthropist, has provided financial aid to schools in Kaski
and Lamjung, while the JP Cross Basketball and Volleyball tournament
sponsored by him is organised each year in Pokhara. Cross had also
managed to distribute relief materials during the famine that had
gripped the eastern side in 2008. Cross has been an assistant professor
at Kirtupur and happens to be an expert in Nepali language. He has
published 15 books on Gorkha army and its recruitment process.
Meanwhile, Cross has been invited to receive the award for the oldest
war veteran of the Gorkha Rifles next year in India. However, without a
citizenship certificate his travel remains uncertain. Even with some
advising him to apply for a refugee visa, he denied the requests saying
that he sees no reason to seek residency as a refugee in Nepal.
According to sources, a former home minister had taken the initiative
to provide him with the certificate but the process stalled after change
of government leadership. “The indifference shown by previous
governments has denied him the certificate even though he has been
living in the country for decades,” said Dhampu, pointing out that the
various non-residential Nepalis were acquiring Nepali citizenship
through illegal means. “He renounced his British citizenship and devoted
his life to Nepal. The government should recognise him as one of us.”
Indians acquiring Nepali nationality ‘illegally’
BINOD BHANDARI
Sri Prasad Mukhiya from Indian state of Bihar had submitted an
application to acquire a Nepali citizenship before he married Urmali
Sahani from Rangeli VDC of Morang.
Seven years after the marriage, Mukhiya received a Nepali citizenship card, and he is now living with his family in Nepal.
Another Indian national Ajitesh Raya, who married Mitrakumari from the
same VDC, also got a Nepali citizenship with the help of his in-laws.
Hari Prasad Pokharel, secretary of Rangeli VDC, said that the trend of
Indian men marrying Nepali women with an objective of obtaining Nepali
citizenship illegally has gone unchecked.
He claimed that more than 500 Indian people have used unfair means to
gain the cards from Rangeli VDC in the past decade, adding that the
cards were acquired through integrated mobile service camps organised in
the VDC before 2063 BS.
According to sources, Indian men prefer women having Nepali citizenship for marriage, so much so that some of them do not
even demand dowry, if the bride’s side assures to help them acquire
Nepali citizenship by producing fake documents or using political
pressure.
Administrative Officer at the District Administration Office Rajan
Regmi said that around 40 percent of the Indian nationals who obtained
Nepali citizenship took advantage of the camps. “Those citizenship cards
in possession of Indian nationals can be annulled if the state
investigates the matter seriously.”
Posted on: 2014-04-22 08:46
Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/