Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that the issue of revocation of passports and OCI will be resolved very soon.
‘I have already taken up this issue with Home Minister Amit Shah and MEA Foreign Secretary. This issue has been brought to me very late. They want surrender certificate instead of revocation,” said Sawant speaking on sidelines of Bhausaheb Bandodkar Jayanti event at Miramar.
He further said that the issue is discussed with the centre and will be resolved soon.
Sawant also said that Goa government has urged the Union Minister of State for External Affairs Minakshi Lekhi to look into the issue of Goans facing difficulties in obtaining OCI cards after surrendering their passport.
“Any issue that Goans face in any part of the world will be taken up and we will try to resolve it with the support of Government of Goa and the Centre.” he added
CM also said that the state government and the Secretary (Finance) of the Government of India are in constant communication to find a solution to the Portuguese passport issue.
“Revocation of passports and passport surrender are the two issues, We are working to negotiate the benefit of surrender with the Indian government in order to expedite the issuing of the OCI card. The answer will appear,” he promised.
Earlier, Goans for Goa convenor Kennedy Afonso submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to resolve the revocation of Indian passports issue before the election model code of conduct comes into effect.
”However, we would like to bring to your kind notice, that 20 days are up and the revoked passport holders are worried that the election code of conduct might come into effect any time, and this important matter might remain unresolved,” he added.
