-----Original Message-----
From: Samir Kelekar
> NRGs holding Indian passports have legal rights to take part in
Indian politics.
RESPONSE: Can Non-Resident Goans (NRGs) participate in the Indian
electoral process?? Yes! Can they vote? No? Why not? They do not have a
Voter Card? Why not? They do not have a Ration Card? Why not?? They do
not live in Goa? So what? They are Goan - own homes, pay taxes, etc.
Just Non-Resident at the time of elections.
If they can vote, do they?? No? Voter apathy, perhaps??
Voter turnout in Indian elections in 2009 was 59-60%. While the turnout
in Goa was 55%, the turnout in the metros can be classified as appalling
- Pune - 40%, Mumbai - 43%, Bangalore - 46%.
So what good is having legal rights, when Indians in general and Goans
in particular are not interested in exercising those rights?
- B
REFERENCES:
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/59-60-percent-voter-turnout-in-election-2009-lead_100192031.html
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/55-voter-turn-out-in-second-phase-of-lok-sabha-polls_100183770.html
http://epaper.mailtoday.in/352009/epaperpdf/352009-md-hr-23.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout