Memorandum Submitted to Embassy: UK Indigenous Federation Demands Voting Rights for Nepalis Living Abroad
London, January 2, 2026 — Representatives of Nepalese residing in the United Kingdom have demanded the guarantee of voting rights for Nepalese citizens living abroad in the upcoming election scheduled for March 5.
Office bearers of the Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Federation (NINFIN) UK submitted a memorandum to the Embassy of Nepal in London, calling on the Government of Nepal to ensure voting rights for Nepalis living overseas.
The memorandum was read out by General Secretary Farm Dura, while Acting President Mrs. Bimala Kumari Rai formally handed it over. During the submission, Mrs. Rai urged the Embassy to forward the federation’s demands to the Prime Minister of Nepal and also called on the Embassy to take further initiatives, stating that it had first-hand knowledge of the situation of Nepalese living in the UK. She also thanked all those present for their participation.
The memorandum was submitted in the presence of Federation Secretary Indra Prasad Rai, former presidents Thark Ranamagar and Siri Prasad Samyo, and advisers Bhakta Bahadur Dura and Dr. Sumaya Rai. Indigenous rights activists Santabir Nembang, Dal Bahadur Budhathoki, Manoj Pun, retired Captain Bir Bahadur Ghahamagar, Manikala Rai, Krishna Rai, and Vice President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council Biswasdip Tigela, along with around one and a half dozen other participants, were also present.
Receiving the memorandum, Acting Ambassador Bipin Dhuwadi stated that Nepalese living abroad possess an inherent right to vote and pledged to immediately forward the memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Following the conclusion of the memorandum submission program, the Committee for the Continuation of Nepali Citizenship for British Gurkhas (CNCBG) also presented its demands. As Federation President Retired Major Yogesh Koyu is currently in Nepal, the program was led by Vice President Rai.
The Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Federation UK, established in 2009, currently has 11 ethnic upliftment organizations affiliated with it in the United Kingdom.
