New Delhi, June 16 : India Thursday approved dual citizenship
for members of its vast diaspora who immigrated after Jan 26, 1950 when the
country became a republic.
The dual citizenship, however, will not be extended to persons
of Indian origin, their children and grand children who migrated to Pakistan
or Bangladesh after January 26, 1950. <
"The dual citizen will be extended to persons of Indian
origin who meet these criteria as long as their home countries allow dual
citizenship in some form," Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal
Reddy told reporters here.
The decision - including a go-ahead to the Ministry of Overseas
Indian Affairs to notify an amendment to the Citizenship Act of 1955 - was
taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The cabinet also decided to issue smart cards - which will
be like credit cards embedded with relevant information to facilitate identification
and travel - to those eligible for dual citizenship, Reddy said.
The previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government
had approved dual citizenship for persons of Indian origin residing in only
16 countries.
But at the annual diaspora day celebrations in Mumbai January
this year, Manmohan Singh said every member of the diaspora who has migrated
after Jan 26, 1950 would be eligible for dual citizenship.
Thursday's cabinet decision sets in motion that process.
India boasts some 20 million members of its diaspora spread
over 110 countries, including Indian nationals in Gulf and other countries.
(IANS)
