Dear Nasci, Thank you for the example of the Italian Govt. Whenever we come across information like this it expands the scope of our debate and allows us to take decisions with wider perception.
However, a minor correction on the term NRI. You are right, it does mean Non-Resident Indian, in the purest sense of the term. It was a tax identity set up to deal with income ensuring from Non-Resident Indians. These NRIs, when the term first became popular in the Indian vernacular by the late 70s, comprised mostly of Gulf NRIs who remitted to their NRI and NRI(E) accounts. Technically speaking these NRIs never really lost their right to vote. If they kept their ration cards and other forms of identity valid, they could indeed return during elections and vote. The term now encompasses all Indians residing outside of India, including Indians who have acquired citizenship of other countries and second-generation PIOs. Hence, we are primarily taking about Indians in the US, Canada, Uk, Australia, and so forth. Here is a definition from Wikipedia: "A non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country. Other terms with the same meaning are (somewhat self-deprecating in context) desis, overseas Indian and expatriate Indian. For tax and other official purpose the government of India considers any Indian national away from India for more than 180 days in a year an NRI. In common usage, this often includes Indian born individuals who have taken the citizenship of other countries." To me democracy is a vehicle of representation. If I was a Goan residing in Goa, I certainly would not want some second-generation expat who shows no signs of interest in the native country, having the right to vote. Will this right to vote, be pegged to any sort of commitment? Will it require some amount of residency or financial investment? If not, the right to vote will eventually end up being a vote for outdated loyalties and/or issues viewed through the prism of an expat's viewpoint, which may not be relevant to Goa/India's realities. Elisabeth -------------------------- --- Nasci Caldeira <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Elisabeth, > > NRI is a Non Resident Indian, that is a person > holding an Indian Passport > and Citizenship, residing outside India. And in case > of NRIs in gulf and > other like countries these NRIs are not even PR that > is they are not > permanent Residents in the countries where they are > working as expatriates. > Hence they are for all purposes Indians working > abroad and come 'HOME to > India. As such they should have the 'Right of Vote' > in their respective > constituencies back home. Not knowing about certain > things like u say is no > criteria for 'No Vote'. It is the persons inherent > right to vote, > irrespective of other perceived qualities. > > This reminds me of what Nehru said in response to a > query from a Time > Correspondent, at the time of Goa's > Liberation/Invasion/ Annexation! When > the said journo said to Nehru: "most Goans he met in > Bombay were not in > favour of Nehru's impending action". To which Nehru > replied:"Most Goans in > Bombay are cooks and butlers". Do these poeple not > have the right to decide > or vote (n this case) > just because they are cooks and butlers?? I hope U > see the analogy. > > > A PIO on the other hand is a person of Indian > Origin, full or half; and this > person may or may not be an Indian Citizen; the > person may be a foreign (non > Indian) citizen either acquired thru immigration or > by birth. These persons > who are foreign citizens can never be allowed to > vote etc in India. That is > the natural law! > > For all of the above, I feel that all NRI's who are > not PR of foreign > countries shoiuld be allowed to vote, in their > respective constituencies in > India. > > I will bring to notice the news of the Italian Govt. > from this year allowing > Italian NRI's in Australia, not only to vote in > Italian Elections but also > to have their own Reps in both houses of the Italian > Parliament. These were > duly elected here in Australia by these NRI's and > are now sitting in the > Italian Parliament on behalf of the NRI's. I was > pleasently surprised; but > again that is true democracy in action. > > Nasci Caldeira > Melbourne. > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)