Nepal Supreme Court removes deputy PM over citizenship

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s Supreme Court on Friday removed the country’s deputy prime minister from office and from his parliamentary seat for violating citizenship laws.

Rabi Lamichhane had become deputy prime minister and the powerful home minster after his newly formed party joined the coalition government last month.

He was once a United States citizen but gave it up after returning to Nepal.

The court ruled that after he took up U.S. citizenship he was no longer a Nepali national, and that after abandoning his American citizenship, he did not reapply for Nepali nationality. Therefore, it said, he improperly contested the election because of his invalid citizenship.

Nepal does not allow dual citizenship.

Lamichhane walked out of the government ministry and told reporters he welcomed the court decision. He said he was now without any citizenship and was unable to make any comments.

There was no immediate comment from the government or the prime minister's office.

Lamichhane, a former television host, formed the National Independent Party with people who had no connections to political groups. The party won 20 seats in the Nov. 20 election for the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament.