It is heartening to know that the Indian government is considering giving long-term visas to Goans in Pakistan. As we now know, the issue was raised at the London Goan Convention. It is impossible that the Indian government acted so fast in response to the issue raised at the convention. The issue has been lying with the Indian government for a long time. I remember this issue was raised with Eduardo Faleiro in Toronto when he was part of a delegation to the UN and stopped by Toronto many years ago. Faleiro, who was then the Minister of State for External Affairs, was hosted to a reception by the Goan Overseas Association under the presidentship of Alpoim Andrade. The Indian consulate, under Chandra Mohan Bhandari, informed the GOA of Faleiro's coming to Toronto and the GOA hastily organized a reception in the same hotel, Chealsea Inn, where Faleiro was staying. The selected group of Goans waited for at least an hour for Faleiro to come down to the reception room. Since there was no sign of him, Alpoim and myself went to Faleiro's room. We told him that the group was waiting for him. He said he was not aware of any reception for him. It seemed strange that the Indian consulate had not informed him. However, he said he would be down in 15 minutes and he did come. It was here that the issue of Pakistan Goans in Toronto having a hard time getting visas to India was raised. In front of some of us, Faleiro told Bhandari to pursue this matter with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). I was bit surprised that Faleiro directed the Indian consul-general to follow up on the matter instead of assuring the GOA that he would personally take up the matter within his own ministry. In fact, the GOA had also raised the issue with the Indian consulate much before Faleiro's visit. As usual nothing happened. What is surprising is that the issue was not taken up by Faleiro on a priority basis when he was the minister of state for external affairs. He was obviously in a position to push for the granting of long-term visas to Pakistani Goans much earlier than thought of now. Only Faleiro can explain why it didn't happen during his time. The visa applications of Pakistani Goans are submitted to the MEA in New Delhi for a check-up and this takes up lot of time. The time delay obviously frustrated Pakistani Goans. The Indian consulate's answer was that it was helpless as the rule applied to all Pakistanis who wanted to visit India. The rule is still in existence. I have seen at the Dubai Indian consulate many Pakistanis voicing their frustrations for not getting replies to their applications for weeks or more than a month. It would be good that those Pakistani Goans wishing to get Indian citizenships were allowed to do so. Perhaps it will not be easy as the Indian government would obviously run background checks on the persons. In the light of the recent attacks in India, it is imperative that India take utmost measures to check thoroughly a person's background. However, the new thinking on the MEA's part is welcome. The concession to be made to Pakistani Goans in getting long-term visas is a good step.
Eugene Correia
