The Hindu : National : `Unqualified dual citizenship' will harm security: Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 13, 2005

National

National

`Unqualified dual citizenship' will harm security: Advani

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD, JAN. 12 . The BJP president, L.K. Advani, today criticised the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, for the Centre's decision to confer "unqualified dual citizenship" to all people of Indian origin settled abroad.

Expressing apprehension that it could cause a threat to the national security, Mr. Advani said people like Dawood Ibrahim had left India and gone to Pakistan or Bangladesh could now claim Indian citizenship.

Similarly, over a crore of Bangladeshis who had infiltrated into India — many of them now living illegally — could stake claim for citizenship. "It is singularly ill-advice, whosoever has given it to the Prime Minister failing to realise the threat to the security it will cause to the nation," he said.

Mr. Advani was participating at the inaugural ceremony of a Global Investors' Summit organised by the Gujarat Government. Mr. Advani said he particularly chose the platform to raise thedual citizenship issue because he was aware that many of the non-resident Indians among the audience also had attended the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Mumbai.

He said he held Dr. Singh in high esteem but was pained to hear his "uncharitable remarks" about the previous NDA Government on the dual citizenship issue.

About 1,000 global and domestic players, NRIs and potential investors are attending the two-day summit which was inaugurated by the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

At the inaugural ceremony, chief executives of many multinational and domestic companies, including Shell, British Gas, General Motors, Larsen and Toubro, Torrent, Sanghi Industries, Shah Alloys and others announced expansion of projects or setting up new ones in Gujarat, promising an investment of over Rs. 51,000 crores.

Mr. Advani appreciated the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi's "vision" in organising the summit. Expressing similar sentiment, Mr. Shekhawat, wondered why other States did not grab the opportunity.

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