On Sat Apr 29 02:27:41 PDT 2006, Elisabeth Carvalho wrote: > Dear Nasci, > I think you are mixing the issue of absentee voting ballots > and that of NRI voting rights. Or perhaps I am getting it > wrong? Maybe someone in India/Goa can illuminate us.
RESPONSE: While the subject thread is about Voting rights for NRIs, I think the definition of an NRI has been rather 'grey' in this discussion thread. What is true, is that the acronym was coined for a financial perspective by the Reserve Bank of India decades ago. If one could identify themselves as an NRI - Indian passport holder or otherwise descendant of an Indian citizen, one could open a bank account, etc... I agree with Paulo & Mario's assertion, that to be an NRI, one has to be an Indian national - not resident in India. Having acquired citizenship of another country, one becomes a PIO - Person of Indian Origin. OIC - Overseas Indian Citizenship aka "Dual-Citizenship", seeks to provide avenues for PIOs to invest in India while PIOs are seeking wider access in terms of education, finance, business, etc. The GOI - Government of India, has made it clear that the OIC, will provide PIOs the same benefits as Indian citizens, except the ability to vote or seek election to Parliament, State assemblies or municipal corporations. So Goans who are citizens of any country other than India, should not harbour any hopes of voting in any election in India, although they are free to influence the results. I do agree that genuine NRIs should be afforded the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in any election in India. With advancing technology, I think, the government can safely allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections, without worrying about corrupting the vote. Re Diaspora Italians: A 58-year old Toronto doctor who immigrated to Canada 18 yrs ago, became the first Canadian to be elected to the Italian parliament 2 weeks ago from the riding (district) of North and Central America. The decision to allow Italians living abroad to be represented in the Italian parliament has been in the works since the 1950s. It came about only after Italy changed its constitution and got the co-operation of other countries to allow dual citizenship. (Source: Globe and Mail) Probably some day, Indians in the Diaspora will be sending their own representative(s) to the Houses of Parliament. Best - Bosco Toronto, CA _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
