We had thought the draft was to be made with joint understanding between the government and the UN. But there were certain phrases that we as employees of the state thought were totally unsuitable.

For example, we didn't agree with the term 'statelessness'. We dont't think there is statelessness in Nepal as in other countries. When we asked the UN what statelessness meant, they said it was a condition where people didn't have citizenship. But the government has gone door to door distributing citizenship certificates, and we are perplexed why such positive efforts were accommodated in the report only after we requested them. References to impunity, and that too phrased as 'extreme impunity' are also unacceptable to the government.

If the UN wants, we can sit down and discuss how to resolve these differences. However, unless phrases that jeopardise the government's position are excluded, it will be a document drafted by the UN alone and not the government.

As far as not signing the document harming our chances of receiving foreign aid is concerned, I would say no amount of aid is greater than Nepal's sovereignty.

Listen to the full interview (starting from 9:53)