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NRIs will be able to vote
in the next general elections,said Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to the annual gathering of the Indian diaspora amid
indications that the long-held promise may be coming to fruition
with government planning to change the definition of who is
a "citizen".
Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Singh said, "I
recognise the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to
exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs
India... In fact, I would go a step further and ask why more
overseas Indians should not return home to join politics and
public life as they are increasingly doing in business and
academia."
The law ministry is currently working on amending the definition
of the Indian citizen in the Representation of Peoples Act
from the current "ordinary resident" to a term that
includes those living overseas.
Voting rights could be extended to Indian passport holders
while holders of Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards would
not be eligible. "We seek the active involvement of overseas
Indian communities in accelerating the pace of our economic
and social development," Singh said.
He also promised a social security net for overseas Indians
to tide over economic distress - an assurance clearly motivated
by the concern for NRIs, many of whom have been hit hard by
the global economic downturn.
Describing India as a "slow moving elephant",
he said, "I recognise the frustration well-wishers feel
when they lament why things don't work faster or why well
formulated plans and policies don't get implemented as well
as they should be." This was a price India paid for its
inclusive approach, but that was a price worth paying, he
added. "It is equally true that with each step forward
we leave behind a deep imprint. Underlying our system is an
inherent political and economic resilience that gives our
country and its institutions great strength and buoyancy."
Singh called on the Indian diaspora to step up their investments
in India, asking them to take a "careful look" at
the country of their origin pointing out that he expected
India would clock 9-10% growth in a couple of years on the
back of a strong economic revival.
Singh said security of Indian students and workers abroad
was top priority of the government. "The security of
our overseas workers and students is a top priority of my
government," he said. In a recent statement, the ministry
of external affairs had said, "It is a matter of concern
that in spite of serious and concerted efforts by the Australian
government to deal with this issue to address our concerns,
these attacks are continuing, and have even resulted in fatalities."
Source: TNN
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