Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said that Dual Citizenship and OCI Card issues needs to be settled as quickly as possible not for any political fallout but as Service to Goans.
Khurshid was addressing a press conference at Congress House Panaji.
“Dual Citizenship and OCI Card issues needs to be settled as quickly as possible not for any political fallout but as Service to Goans,” said Khurshid
He further said that Congress is always committed for welfare of OBC, SC and ST Community but BJP is not willing to give power and rights to them.
“Why HM Amit Shah did not give time to meet ST Delegation of Goa on Political Reservations & met only CM?,” he added
Former Minister also said that government shouldn’t force a choice on people of Goa, should facilitate them to make a choice best in their interest.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant called on Union ministers and senior government functionaries to get Goa-related pending issues addressed including the dual citizenship issue, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
During the day, he also met Union Minister of State for External Affairs Minakshi Lekhi and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Suman Bery, and discussed with them several Goa-related issues.
Sawant urged Lekhi to look into the issue of Goans facing difficulties in obtaining OCI cards after surrendering their passport.
The delegation talked about the problems with Goans getting Portuguese citizenship and having their passports revoked. The Goa team also pleaded with the Union minister to resolve the matter so that people attempting to obtain OCI cards won’t encounter any difficulties.
During the budget session of the Goa assembly earlier this month, the House decided that the Indian government should be asked to allow dual citizenship to individuals covered by the Goa, Daman, and Diu citizenship order because of the unique circumstances that led to the liberation of Goa, Daman, and Diu from the Portuguese regime and the subsequent awarding of Indian citizenship to those nationals. Sawant had promised to bring up the dual citizenship issue with the Center.