SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2024
VITHALDAS HEGDE
PANJIM: The Commissioner for NRI Affairs in the (BJP) government of 2014 had clearly outlined that registration of birth in Portugal does not tantamount to citizenship and it is only “Cartao de Cidadao”, a document which makes the applicant a Portuguese citizen.
The then Commissioner for NRI Affairs late Dr Wilfred Mesquita vide letter dated November 6, 2014, to Ramachandran Swaminathan, Special Secretary (Americas & CPV), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, had stated that not every Goan born before liberation, become a Portuguese citizen by default and that his/her registration of birth in Portugal, as per the existing Portuguese laws, will entitle the said person to possess “Cartao de Cidadao”, which according to him, is the only document which makes the applicant a Portuguese citizen.
This clearly implies that registration of birth is just the beginning of the process to obtain Portuguese Citizenship through “Cartao de Cidadao” and registration of birth by itself in no way gives the applicant the right to be a Portuguese Citizen, Dr Mesquita had stated in his letter.
“Bilhete de Identidade” or Identity Card has been withdrawn and instead now they (Portugal) had introduced “Cartao de Cidadao” which is identified as Portuguese Citizenship, Dr Mesquita had further pointed out.
The then Commissioner for NRI Affairs had claimed that a Portuguese passport is just a travel document that facilitates travel to Portugal and “Cartao de Cidadao” is the most important document as far as Portuguese citizenship is concerned.
During the high-level meeting held with Union Home Minister, which was also attended by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi on October 29, 2014, Dr Mesquita had pointed out that no Goan who had his birth registered in Portugal can travel to that country without obtaining a visa from the Portuguese Consulate in the State. Those having “Cartao de Cidadao” do not need such a visa, which goes to show that only these people are considered by Portugal as having Portuguese citizenship.
According to Dr Mesquita, the Portuguese passport is just a travel document that facilitates travel to Portugal and “Cartao de Cidadao” is the most important document as far as Portuguese citizenship is concerned. It was brought to the notice of the then Union Home Minister that no Goan who has his birth registered in Portugal can travel to that country without obtaining a visa from the Portuguese Consulate in Goa. Those having “Cartao de Cidadao” do not need such a visa, which goes to show that only these people are considered by Portugal as having Portuguese Citizenship.
Dr Mesquita wrote the letter after the then newly appointed Consul General of Portugal in Goa, Dr Rui Carvalho Baceira on the same day i.e. October 29, 2014, spelt out that if any Goan born before December 19, 1961, applies to the Portuguese Consulate for registering his birth in Portugal, and if his or her application duly supported by all the necessary documents, fulfils the criteria, then the Consulate is bound to respond positively to the application.
Dr Mesquita had said that the statement of Consul General of Portugal in Goa, was in tune with the views expressed by the State government that the mere registration or transcription of birth record of any Goan born in Goa before Liberation to the Central Registry in Lisbon, Portugal, cannot amount to acquisition of Portuguese Nationality or Citizenship, and consequently, cessation of Indian Citizenship. At the most it can be considered as the beginning of the process.
In the light of the above, the State government had requested the Union government to either amend the Goa, Daman & Diu (Citizenship) Order, 1962 or Rule 40 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009 and Schedule III thereunder, as may be considered appropriate, in the circumstances of the case.
