Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa government has clarified that it has not made any representation to the Union Government regarding the grant of dual citizenship to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), including members of the Goan diaspora.
In a reply to a starred Legislative Assembly question tabled by MLA Viresh Borkar, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that dual citizenship is not permissible under Article 9 of the Constitution of India. He further emphasized that citizenship is a Central subject and is uniformly लागू across the country, with no special provisions for any state.
The government also informed that no specific study or consultations have been conducted by the Department of NRI Affairs on the demand for dual citizenship. Additionally, no memorandums have been received from overseas Goan associations on the issue.
On the possibility of passing a resolution in the State Assembly urging changes to the Citizenship Act, the government stated that it is “not applicable” in view of the existing constitutional provisions.
As per official data, around 7,000 NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of Goan origin have voluntarily registered with the Office of the Commissioner for NRI Affairs. However, detailed data remains confidential, and the department does not maintain records of those who have opted for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI).
Meanwhile, to safeguard the interests of Goan NRIs who have acquired foreign citizenship, the government has maintained records of properties voluntarily declared by them. These details have been shared with district authorities and the State Registrar to prevent unauthorized or fraudulent property transactions.
