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Saturday, Jan 06, 2007
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Voting right for passport holders

Special Correspondent

Act to be amended: Vayalar Ravi

NEW DELHI: The Government will introduce amendments to the Representation of the People Act to give all Indian passport holders the right to vote regardless of whether they are residing in India or not.

This was stated by Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Friday at a press conference on the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2007 (PBD), being organised by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Delhi Government and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here from January 7 to 9. Around 1,500 delegates are expected to attend it.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the event aimed at bringing the people of Indian origin closer to their roots.

Observing that the voting right issue had been raised repeatedly at earlier PBDs, Mr. Ravi said: "Constitutionally, only Indian citizens are allowed to vote. The Government is not going to amend the Constitution. Other country passport holders can get the Overseas Indian Card that gives them several benefits, but not the right to vote."

Barring political rights, the Government was doing everything to help the people of India origin and was concerned about their welfare, he said.

The theme

Pointing out that the theme was "Rooting for the roots — Meeting India's Social Development Challenges," he said the focus would be on social development of the Indian and the role of diaspora. The event had been designed to promote a better understanding between the Indian diaspora, particularly their generation next, and the country's political leadership and people.

Political leaders, including Union Ministers and state Chief Ministers, will also attend the sessions.

The theme had been developed to inculcate among the new generation of overseas Indians a sense of pride about their Indian origins. "We want to bring the new generation closer to India and make them feel that their roots still lie in this country," Mr. Ravi said. The Ministry had been working with associations of Indians abroad to achieve this.

MoU with Belgium

The Minister said the Government was taking measures to protect the interests of Indian workers abroad. "We have signed an MoU [memorandum of understanding] with Belgium to avoid double taxation of Indian professionals. We have also signed an agreement to safeguard workers in certain Gulf countries."

CII's Chief Mentor Tarun Das said that over 1,200 delegates from 47 countries were expected to attend the divas. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will deliver the inaugural address and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam the valedictory speech. Mr. Kalam will present the PBD Samman Awards. Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore S. Jayakumar will be the chief guest.

Special emphasis will be laid on attracting $1.5 trillion capital investments to India.

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