Alemao demands government’s stance on dual citizenship

MARGAO: Former chief minster Churchill Alemao, who has recently joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Friday, demanded that the government immediately clarifies its stance on the dual citizenship issue. Alemao castigated the BJP government for its “double standards in protecting” Benaulim MLA Caetano (Caitu) Silva, who is alleged to be a Portuguese citizen.
Granting relief to Silva, the high court of Bombay at Goa referred the Portuguese nationality case against Silva to the competent authority, under the Union ministry of home affairs, to decide it afresh in three months.
A few months ago, Majorda sarpanch Laxmi Gonsalves, Carmona panch member Gerson Figuereido and others were disqualified as elected representatives after they were found to be non-Indian citizens. Alemao demanded that these panch members be re-qualified and said he would go to court on this matter.
Alemao pointed out that former external affairs minister, Eduardo Faleiro, had sought to move a bill to protect Goans who faced enormous hardships of returning back to Goa, after making Portuguese passports to seek employment overseas. “But, many politicians objected to this bill on dual citizenship,” he said.
In 2005, the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme was introduced in response to demands for dual citizenship by the Indian diaspora. OCI card holders are debarred from voting and contesting the polls.