VASCO
Stating that Portuguese citizens of Goan origin need not surrender their citizenship on returning to Goa, GPCC Luizinho Faleiro said that they would be entitled to all rights under the merged PIO-OCI status except for voting rights.
Speaking to The Goan along the sidelines of a function in Vasco, Faleiro claimed that Goans had left the State for better job opportunities.
“As far as Brexit is concerned, there is a sizeable number of Goans who left the shores of Goa not because they wanted to leave Goa, but because they thought they would get a better quality of life and better opportunities for their families.”
Asked if the Indian government should extend assistance to Goans who have renounced their citizenship, Faleiro replied: “They are contributing to the nation through their earnings as foreign exchange remittances in India and they are also contributing to the foreign exchange reserves of the State as well as the country,” justified Faleiro.
“Though Goans have left for the UK by applying for Portuguese passports, they still belong to the Goan diaspora, and as a result, my heart goes out to them. I have appealed to the government of India through the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately reach out to the Goan community in UK and try to ascertain if there are any problems faced by them due to UK's decision to exit from the EU,” Faleiro added.
“If Goans in UK are facing any problems, the government should address these issues. The Home Ministry has assured to look into the matter and what they need is only a one-and-half line resolution with a cut-off date to protect the interest of those Goans who have registered their births in Portugal. Like in Pondicherry, the NRI cell has demanded that Goans should also be allowed dual citizenship,” stated Faleiro.
“Goans migrated overseas as they did not get better opportunities here and with a hope of better opportunities, they took the chance. Because of this, Goans should be given the benefit of dual citizenship,” he said.
“It is the duty of the government of India to protect the Indian diaspora, and hence, the Congress has demanded that the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs reach out to those people if they are in trouble. Help should be extended to them so that they can come back and be a part and parcel of the country's development,” said the GPCC chief.
Faleiro added that the earlier prime minister as well as the present PM had urged people of Indian origin to come back, as they need not surrender their citizenship but could also seek the PIO and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) status.
“This PIO-OCI status, which has now been merged, will entitle them to all rights, except voting rights,” said Faleiro.
