MARGAO
Reminding that the election code of conduct is expected to come into force anytime from now due to the up coming Lok Sabha polls, Goans For Goa (GFG) has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to resolve the problem of Indian passport holders by liaising with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs.
Goans for Goa Convenor Kennedy Afonso said it’s time the BJP government ignites both its dormant engines, which have been inactive for the last 15 months, and ends the trauma faced by the revoked passport holders.
“The future of even minor children is at stake, and this is no time to play politics over this issue. It’s about time you, as the state Home Minister, resolve the problem immediately, by liaising with the MEA/MHA officials,” he said.
GFG would like to bring to the Chief Minister’s notice that this circular on the revocation of passports was not put into the public domain and was unleashed on the people without any thought or proper application of mind.
“The passport officer has used the suppression of material information at the time of renewing Indian passports as the grounds for revocation of Indian passports. However, the same grounds cannot be used to deny OCI status, as the OCI eligibility parameters do not state that revoked passport holders are not eligible for OCI status,” he said.
Saying that GFG has been seeking an appointment with the CM for the last three months without any success, Kennedy said, “As state Home Minister, you need to listen to the affected people. Probably the reason you did not give an appointment is that the Goa government doesn’t have any solution in sight. Probably, by going to meet MEA on the 17th of February, it is the first serious attempt of the BJP-led government. Therefore, we are compelled to write this open letter to seek an appointment with you before you go to Delhi so that you may listen to the problems, hardship, and trauma faced by the people for the last 15 months.”
He added, “Giving immediate relief to the revoked passport holder should be the primary objective or focus of your discussion with the MEA/MHA.”
Saying that the surrender certificate is an unwarranted document that the FRRO is seeking only from former Indian citizens residing in India, Kennedy said, “As per the OCI eligibility criteria, the applicant must have a valid foreign passport and proof of Indian Origin. All revoked passport holders fulfill the above criteria. Therefore, if a revoked passport certificate is accepted by the FRRO, this issue can easily be resolved. Giving a one-time amnesty and granting OCI status.”
