It is compulsory for everyone who has Pakistani links to get security clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Those who had immigrated to Pakistan from Goa and are now Canadian citizens and they have applied for Indian visas before the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Out of the 24, security clearance has already been given for five of the devotees. Five don’t need clearance as they are above the age of 75, says the communication to the NRI Commissioner Dr Wilfred Mesquita. Of the total of 24, 10 were born before Partition of India while 14 were born after Partition.
These devotes, most of them senior citizens, were born in Karachi before and after Partition, having migrated from Goa for employment during the erstwhile Portuguese regime. Later most of them migrated to Canada, United Kingdom and other European countries before and after Partition for better prospects.
“However, in view of their past Pakistan links, Consulate General of India in Toronto is bound to seek clearance from MHA,” U D Kamat, director of Commission of Non Resident Indian (NRI) Affairs told Herald.
Following a communication from Consulate General of India in Toronto, NRI Commissioner in Goa through an official conversation with the MHA requested to grant clearance to these people in a time bound manner, considering that they want to visit Goa during the Exposition.
“Security clearance has been issued to five people, while MHA has said that the remaining applications have not been uploaded online, which should be done immediately,” Kamat said adding that apart from these, there are another six Goan origin Canadian nationals who have also applied for visa to be here during the Exposition. Most of this group had come down for the 2004 Exposition as well.
