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We favour dual citizenship: PM
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 8. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today came close to suggesting that his Government has sorted out the issue of dual citizenship which would facilitate Indians settled abroad to make their contributions in the progress of the country.
``We are in favour of dual citizenship but not dual loyalty. The loyalty with India will remain but they will also be loyal to the country where they have taken citizenship and will fulfill their responsibility. Therefore, it is not a question of dual loyalty. There were problems in sorting out the issue of dual citizenship but it has been resolved now. I am hopeful that Indians settled abroad will find it suitable,'' he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking after receiving the report of the high-level Committee on Indian Diaspora, headed
by L.M. Singhvi, MP and eminent jurist. Citing the example of Mauritius, Mr. Vajpayee said that Indians were ruling in the island nation but had faced some problems in Fiji. ``We are helping in Fiji to the extent possible and Indians have not given up hope there, they are facing up to the situation,'' he said.
He said that in the West mainly professionals from India had gone and there was a great demand for well-educated and professionally qualified persons. The Prime Minister announced that January 9 would be celebrated every year as Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas as it was on this day that Mahatma Gandhi, had returned from South Africa to lead the nation's freedom movement.
Also, he said, the Government would institute Pravasi Bhartiya Samman to honour Indians settled abroad and recognise their contributions. At least 10 NRIs would be given the awards every year, he said. The first list of 10 awardees would be published on this year's Independence Day, he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Singhvi said the committee had identified seven countries - the U.S., the U.K., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, a large part of Europe and Singapore - for implementation of dual citizenship. He said the committee recommended dual citizenship within the framework of the Citizenship Act and it did not involve any amendment in the Constitution.
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