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India may grant dual citizenship for people of Indian origin >From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) India is getting ready to grant dual citizenship to persons of Indian origin (PIOs) in select countries ahead of a global diaspora meet here next week. "The granting of dual citizenship has reached an advance stage of discussion and we have reached a final decision," J.C. Sharma, a secretary in the external affairs ministry, told reporters here Friday. He said Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had in "principal accepted this aspect". "The discussions are going on at the highest levels of the Indian government," Sharma said. He hinted that an announcement granting dual citizenship to some 20 million PIOs scattered across the world would be made at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or diaspora day, which will be held here January 9-1. Some 1,200 people from some 60 countries will attend the meet. The proposal for granting dual nationality was recommended by a high-level committee headed by L.M. Singhvi, a former Indian envoy to Britain. The panel had proposed a $400-fee for the dual citizenship. The proposal was made after an earlier government scheme to issue PIO cards for $1,000 to facilitate hassle-free visas found few takers. While the law ministry thinks that granting dual nationality would entail amending the constitution, the home ministry has voiced concerns about security implications of such a move. The diaspora day meet coincides with the anniversary of the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India on January 9, 1915, after almost two decades in South Africa. It is aimed at recognizing the contribution of the Indian diaspora in political, social, academic and cultural fields. Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth will deliver a special address at the opening ceremony. Former Fijian prime minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhury, Malaysian Works Minister S. Samy Vellu and a number of prominent NRIs and PIOs will attend the meeting. They include Nobel laureates Amartya Sen and V.S. Naipaul, Lord Bhikhu Parekh of Britain and Deepak Jain, dean of the Kellogg School of Management. >From India, the participants will include politicians, businesspersons, bureaucrats and leaders in various fields. Prime Minister Vajpayee will open the conference. --Indo-Asian News Service WANT TO check out which mailing lists you could subscribe to? Send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ========================================================================
