TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Union Government has assured to provide an amicable solution to the contentious dual citizenship issue that has been haunting lakhs of Goans, whose births are registered in Portugal.
The State government has requested the Union Home Ministry to take up the matter with the Portuguese government or make necessary provision to delete the clause in Portuguese law which designates those born in Goa before Liberation, as Portuguese citizens.
In a special meeting called by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on dual citizenship in New Delhi, Wednesday morning, directions are being issued to the Home Secretary Anil Goswami to find an amicable solution to the dual citizenship issue at the earliest. “The meeting was called by Union Home Minister, who was serious on resolving the issue,” sources said.
The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, NRI Commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita and other senior officers of Ministries of Home and External Affairs and Goa government.
During the meeting, Chief Minister proposed to give freedom to Indian citizens, who are currently in trouble over their dual citizenship. Goa, a former Portugal colony, was taken over in 1961 by India.
Sources said that Parrikar was clear that there are cases wherein births (of Goans born before 1961) have been registered in Portugal by third person or some agent, without knowledge of people concerned and hence these people need protection. Sources said that Government pointed out that the Indian Constitution does not allow dual citizenship, if you voluntarily become the citizen of another country.
“Several Goans have registered their births in Portugal not to get citizenship but for other purposes such as visa to European countries,” sources said quoting Parrikar.
Government is of the view that under section 8 of the Indian Citizenship Act, a person is deemed to be Indian citizen provided, he does not renounce citizenship and also obtain citizenship of some other country.
The State government in the past had petitioned former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the issue.
The issue of dual citizenship is haunting the government as two ruling MLAs – Glenn Ticlo and Caetano Silva are alleged to have dual citizenship, besides a number of key police and government officers, against whom cases have been filed.
