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India to offer 22 million dual citizenship - JULY 15, 2002 JULY 15, 2002 MON
India to offer 22 million dual citizenship
LONDON - More than 22 million people of Indian origin scattered across the world are to be offered dual citizenship by India.
Mr Bhismha Agnihotri, appointed India's 'ambassador at large for non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin', said during a visit here that he expected the Indian Cabinet to approve an amendment to the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 'by January next year', the Electronic Telegraph reported.
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The change would then be ratified by Parliament.
At first, only people of Indian origin settled in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will be offered dual nationality, but eventually it will apply to all, the report added.
The move represents a fundamental departure for India, where all governments since independence in 1947 have resisted the concept of dual nationality as they feared it would mean split loyalties.
However, many Indians abroad, especially in Britain and America, are now doing so well that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has decided to accept the concept of a 'Greater India', with an eye to attracting investment from wealthy ethnic Indians overseas, the Telegraph said.
Mr Agnihotri, who has been to Surinam, Trinidad, Guyana and Canada, said last week there was one restriction on dual nationals living abroad: 'They won't be allowed to run for political office in India nor will they be allowed to vote.'
However, defining who is an Indian may present problems in some cases, the report said.
Britain, for example, has a large number of people whose forefathers left India before partition in 1947. This group includes Muslims who today have closer links with Pakistan but who could legitimately claim dual British and Indian nationality.
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