The debate on the dual nationality for Goans seems to be never ending. Though it started with the complaint against GVP Benaulim MLA, Caitu da Silva, it continued with many other officials and politicians being accused of having acquired Portuguese nationality. It resurfaced recently with even FIRs being registered, contrary to an Office Memorandum No II/26030/34(003)/2013-IC-I dt 13.5.2015 of the Home Ministry of the Union Government directing that status quo be maintained on the issue. Ironically, cases filed against some Government officials, were rightly closed, a little earlier, possibly based on the same Memorandum.
People born in Goa before “Liberation” were Portuguese citizens. It is based on this that Portugal has granted them and their descendents for two generations, the facility of obtaining Portuguese passports.
There are three main steps for obtaining a Portuguese passport. First is the registration of birth of someone born in Goa before 20/12/1961, the second is obtaining the “Cartao de Cidadao” and the third is acquiring the passport. When the passport is acquired, the Indian passport needs to be surrendered, failing which heavy penalties are imposed. Apparently this is not insisted upon in many countries. But since India does not accept dual nationality, this needs to be noted very importantly.
Many Goans appear to have taken only the first step, solely with the purpose of ensuring a better future abroad for their children, should the latter opt to quit the country. This registration of birth is a mere transcription of records from Goa to Central Registry in Portugal. Apparently, according to the Portuguese Organic Law, Goans born before 20.12.1961 are considered Portuguese citizens, irrespective of whether their births have been registered or not. This registration alone does not entitle them to any benefits, not even of residence, travel or vote. It is mandatory for a person born in Goa before 20.12.1961 to be registered first, before any of his immediate descendents register themselves. Hence, often registration of a deceased person becomes necessary but his/her death certificate needs to be produced. It is obvious that Goans who opted for registration only, without being entitled to any benefits or having taken any further steps, did not wish to renounce their Indian nationality and did so solely to make things easier for their progeny to migrate.
If Goans born before “Liberation” are considered by Portugal as their nationals irrespective of their registration, does the Indian Government to accept such law? Either way, is there a case to act against those who have only registered their births? Even most of those who have obtained the “Cartao de Cidadao” have done so to facilitate their travel without visa within the European Union and have not availed of any other benefits and have no intentions of surrendering their Indian nationality. These were some of the arguments put forth by me at the meeting of Goa Govt. officials with the team of Home and External Affairs Ministries held in March last year to discuss the issue to which I had the privilege to be invited.
If Goans were consulted either in 1961 or in 1974 on safeguards and issues like nationality, we may not have been confronted with problems such as these, unlike Pondicherry. Had the Union Govt. been sincere in helping Goans, at least in acknowledgment of their acceptance, without a whimper, of Indian sovereignty, they could have solved this issue long ago, without keeping people in suspense. Rajnath Singh, soon after taking over as Home Minister, had directed his Ministry to sort out this issue expeditiously. But till date nothing has happened, except the Memorandum referred above, which is being blatantly flouted by the police, selectively. And if BJP took some interest in the issue, it is solely because some of their cadres or supporters had at least the registration done. By now, some of the more prominent ones may have got it cancelled. After all, it suits this Government to use this tool to tame or keep swords hanging on the heads of their opponents.
It is a sad reality that many of our educated youth all over India are quitting this “Make in India” country in hordes for greener pastures abroad. This is truer of Goans, who are migrating in hundreds with Portuguese passports, for which they pay the agents heavily. Further the Government is making a fortune by gleefully fleecing poor Goans with fees of Rs 230 per document for notarization and another Rs 500 for a simple authentication by the Collector, applicable solely to documents pertaining to Portuguese nationality. Not alone lack of jobs but disillusionment at whatever is happening in this State, – the traffic mess, total collapse of administration, nepotism and delays and injustice even in Courts have made the lives of Goans miserable and forced many to migrate. Our families are small today and yet our children leave their homes, not of their own will but in utter frustration, sometimes abandoning their aged parents to their fate. Far from any attempts on the part of the Government to arrest this trend, it is in fact entirely responsible for this painful situation. A high profile politician, no longer in Goa, when told years ago, about the exodus is reported to have said “ Vochum di re tankam” betraying his communal leanings.
While no one can be deterred from leaving, it is to be hoped that those who are or can do well here will resist the temptation and will stay back to defend and protect Goa from those who are preying on this State and that the Government will come to its senses by taking positive steps to hold back Goans from leaving the country or at least losing their Indian citizenship.
(The author is a retired banker)
