A lot of debate on the NRI voting right. As the situation stands right now, the Indian government has assured that the NRIs, particularly those in the Gulf areas, will get voting rights. Kerala has fully backed the centre's decision. But when it will happen has not been said. It will take time, just as it took couple of years for the government to give okay to dual citizenship to PIOs. As one of the goanetters metioned India woke up late to the PIO/NRI potential for investments, it is rather the work of New York-based Friends of the BJP who got the then BJP-led government to take steps in this direction. The New York-based Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was probably the first to moot the idea of dual citizenship. They used lot of pressure on the BJP government. Pravasi Divas was the result of the hard lobbying. The Congress government had little choice but to follow the path set by the former government. Doing otherwise would bring on the wrath of the PIOs. Now that the ball has been set rolling, it is slowly but surely gathering moss. Patience is vital. Next step, as GOPIO has demanded, is for representation in Parliament. It's a tall order. Maybe it won't happen in the near future, but possibly in the long run. The jump for dual citizenship to PIO/NRIs MPs is going to be a long jump. I don't see the need for such. Selfless Indian-Americans, especially the strong groups in New York and California, are keen on it. Let's wait and see.
Eugene Correia __________________________________________________ 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)
