Houses okay dual citizenship for Indian diaspora

The Parliament passed a bill to grant dual citizenship to the People of Indian Origin.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said the measure would go a long way to enable this section of people contribute to the cause of national development.

The Citizenship (amendment) Bill, 2003, would "enable both bharatvasis and bharatvanshis to contribute together to the cause of India's development," he said.

Advani was replying to a short debate on the Bill that was earlier adopted by the Upper House. Among other things, the Bill, to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, simplifies the procedure to facilitate the re-acquisition of Indian citizenship by persons of full age who are children of Indian citizens and former Indian citizens, according to its statement of objects and reasons.

The bill provides for the granting of overseas citizenship of India to Persons of Indian Origin, belonging to 16 specified countries and Indian citizens who choose to acquire citizenship of any of these countries at a later date.

It also makes acquisition of Indian citizenship and naturalisation more stringent and prevent illegal migrants from becoming eligible for Indian citizenship.

Advani said the passage of the bill would also fulfill the government's promise to the Persons of Indian Origin made at the last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' in January this year and would be announced at the next celebrations on January 9-10.