NEW DELHI: A longstanding wish of millions of NRIs for voting right in India has come true with the Centre issuing a notification to this effect to enable them to exercise their franchise.
Parliament had in the monsoon session passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections and now government has issued a gazette notification in this regard. “Gazette notification has been issued giving voting rights to Non-Resident Indians,” Overseas Indian Affairs Minister told Lok Sabha, replying to a question.
An estimated 11 million NRIs are living in various countries across the world.
However, the person will be able to exercise the franchise only if he or she is present in the constituency on the polling day.
However, the person will be able to exercise the franchise only if he or she is present in the constituency on the polling day.
Ravi said NRIs, “who have not acquired citizenship of any other country and are living abroad owing to employment, education or otherwise, are now eligible to register their names in the electoral rolls” in their places as mentioned in their passport.
He said the Election Commission is likely to soon finalise the rules and regulations prescribing modalities for entry of names of NRIs in electoral rolls.
The Government had decided to allow the NRIs to participate in the democratic process to further boost the two-way engagement.
He said the Election Commission is likely to soon finalise the rules and regulations prescribing modalities for entry of names of NRIs in electoral rolls.
The Government had decided to allow the NRIs to participate in the democratic process to further boost the two-way engagement.
As per the existing rules, an NRI’s name gets deleted from the voters’ list if he or she stays outside the country for more than six months at a stretch.
The new law will allow an Indian citizen residing abroad to enroll in voter’s list and exercise his franchise even if he or she remained away from place of residence in India for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year, had indicated that Indian passport holders living abroad could get voting rights by the time of next Lok Sabha elections in 2014. - PTI
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year, had indicated that Indian passport holders living abroad could get voting rights by the time of next Lok Sabha elections in 2014. - PTI
Good News for hundreds of thousands of Niz Goenkars to exercise our franchise and throw the Cowmuth government out. Though the paid voters will outnumber us including the migrants, this is just the begining and a beam of hope. Will this be a reality?
ReplyDeleteLovely news! Brothers and sister please book your holidays in November 2011 as the polls will be held. So we require you and to win Goa back as to bring 2nd revolution from corruption
ReplyDeleteNiz Goenkar will have more opportunities now to hear speeches of Chorchill and Micky Mouse in the Gulf Countries.:-)
ReplyDeleteWe must make it reality!
ReplyDeleteThis may sound sweet but not sweet to taste at all.Why did the Indian Goverment mention on the Amendment Bill that the NRI should be in the constituency at the time of elections. This shows the true intentions of the goverment. First world countries allow their citizens to vote in their missions abroad. Why does the govnment of India can't make special arrangementfor NRI to votein their overseas missions . We are leaders in information technology hence it is possible to get overseas results on the same day of voting. In today's economic situation is it advisable for NRI to go on holiday and vote in India?
ReplyDeleteAlu, IT is all an eyewash, all vote oriented politics, all play of words; the end result: back to square one!
ReplyDeleteThey know that there are many in India who can be fooled all the time.