The Hindu : Parliamentary panel tables report on Citizenship Bill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 13, 2003

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Parliamentary panel tables report on Citizenship Bill

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 12. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has accepted the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2003 with the amendments suggested by the Government, and tabled its report.

The Bill seeks to make provision for `dual citizenship' and the compulsory registration of every Indian citizen.

The committee has suggested that the Government reformulate the provision requiring an overseas citizen to swear an oath of allegiance to the Indian Constitution.

It felt that as "allegiance to the Constitution cannot be divided" such an oath would affect the allegiance the person owes to the Constitution of the other country he/she is a citizen of. It has also recommended that the Bill include a provision for adding or deleting the names in the list of "specified country" whose nationals can be granted dual citizenship.

The Bill will grant citizenship to people of Indian origin, who are citizens of the U.S., Israel, New Zealand or some 11 western European countries. This form of `citizenship' will exclude the right to vote or to hold Constitutional office.

The Bill, while creating a second grade of citizens is designed to make the process of acquiring Indian citizenship by registration or naturalisation more stringent and prevent illegal migrants from becoming eligible for citizenship.

The committee heard oral evidence from a Joint Secretary (Foreigners) of the Union Home Ministry and from the Home Secretary. It also heard the views of the Rajya Sabha MP, L.M Singhvi, who chaired the High-Powered Committee on Indian Diaspora.

It also discussed the status of "illegal" immigrants and refugees.

The committee favoured extending "all humanitarian assistance" to refugees who fled to India because of civil unrest or religious persecution, while putting pressure on the governments of those countries to create a conducive atmosphere for their return.

The Ministry of Home Affairs told the Committee that refugees who had entered India before or on 25 March 1971 could be eligible for citizenship. Those who have come after this date would be dealt with under the Foreigners Act.

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