In an interesting development, one which is likely to give relief to the many Goans who have been stranded in the middle of nowhere after their Indian passports were revoked, the Central government has decided to accept “revocation certificates” for processing applications of OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status.
However, the decision does not solve the vexed Portuguese citizenship issue in its totality. The decision to accept revocation certificates will open a window only for those who had hit a dead end having been unable to apply for OCI status. So, to go to town with an understanding that the citizenship issue is resolved based on this decision is completely misleading.
The more serious concern is over the possible revocation of passports of those who have not acquired a Portuguese passport but have only their births registered in Portugal through an Assento entry. The fear that looms over thousands, if not lakhs of Goans is that those who have registered themselves, mainly parents facilitating their children’s processes, still looms large.
While the draconian circular of 2022 prescribed revocation, the revised circular states that the Ministry of Home Affairs has now decided to accept a “Revocation Certificate” as an alternative document instead of the Surrender Certificate in case of Indian nationals hailing from the erstwhile Portuguese territories in India (Goa, Daman and Diu). There is a lot of ambiguity in the office memorandum with no clarity on whether passports which have already been revoked will be reconsidered for OCI status. In the past 17 months, there have been around 200 passports revoked. The memorandum also does not indicate when this change is applicable.
Understandably, the BJP-led government is leaving no stone unturned ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the decision to open up the OCI route for those who had revocation of their Indian passports is another step that would create goodwill among a section of the electorate. The decision, although restricted to OCI applicants, must be welcome because it will facilitate those who were stuck in the citizenship tangle, literally, having no other avenues.
The only concern is that this decision should not be construed as a solution to the wider citizenship issue, because it is not. Lakhs of Goans who have registered their births in Portugal and have not acquired their passport continue to face uncertainties. The law still holds those sections of people as “illegal” citizens. The mere fact that the system has not zeroed down on such people, or there has been no data sharing on citizenship between India and Portugal, does not give the situation any legal standing. While the State government, which has faced tremendous pressure on the issue of citizenship, continues to push the ball in the Centre’s court, it must understand that someday there will have to be some resolution and clarity.
The government cannot rest the issue with the decision on making revocation orders eligible for OCI status, it has to find a resolution to the issue of people holding dual citizenship according to the prescribed law without detaching the underlying socio-economic and emotive factors that come along. Moreover, since Goa was a Portuguese colony, the governments must abandon the one-size-fits-all approach and find a pragmatic solution keeping Goanness at heart.
