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| Indian government urged to offer dual citizenship to overseas Indians |
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An influential group representing immigrants in UK from India and other non-European Union countries has petitioned Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to allow dual citizenship to overseas Indians. In a letter to the PM, executive director of HSMP Forum Amit Kapadia said the current categories of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) cards fell short of the 'security' provided by a full Indian passport. Kapadia noted that Indian immigrants constituted a vast presence in 180 countries, and had a deep sense of commitment to their adopted countries. He wrote: "Having pursued our goals relentlessly for years, many of us have earned the right to citizenship, which consolidates our position in our adopted country and facilitates investments in our home country in terms of trade, property and other financial matters". He added: "Although we have embraced a different culture and a way of life, India still remains our home to which most of us return at regular intervals. Such investments are our way of offering gratitude to the motherland, and also serve the country's economy". Kapadia regretted that at a time when Indian migrants were in a better position to make significant contribution to the country's economy, the Indian government was denying them dual citizenship. "When mutual collaboration is the need of the hour, the Indian government's policy of denying dual citizenship and making us relinquish our Indian passports in order to accept foreign citizenship is a major deterrent and a source of great disappointment," Kapadia wrote. Dual citizenship, he said, was very important for those Indian migrants who had already obtained citizenship of the adopted country and for those who were in a state of dilemma in applying for foreign citizenship. "The OCI and PIO cards fall short of the security that is given by the Indian passport. It robs us of the psychological assurance about our national identity and severs our sense of belonging with our motherland," Kapadia added. The OCI card, he said, deprived migrants of the right to vote, and noted that Indian immigrants in the UK enjoyed voting rights in UK elections as citizens of the Commonwealth. "Today, Indian professionals are scattered all over the globe and India cannot afford to stick to the single citizenship policy if it wishes to harness on the achievements and the influence wielded by Indian immigrants. "Majority of the democratic countries offer dual citizenship to its citizens or permit their citizens to hold on to their citizenship even when they apply for foreign citizenship." - PTI. All rights reserved. Related Articles:
Last update: 13-12-2009 22:16
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