NRIs may get voting rights soon

A longstanding demand for voting rights in India by millions of non-resident Indians (NRI) may finally see the light of the day with a Group of Ministers (GoM) clearing a draft bill on the issue, paving way for its consideration by the Union Cabinet.

Drafted almost fours years back by the overseas affairs ministry, the Representation of People's (Amendment) Bill was cleared by a GoM headed by Defence Minister A K Antony and is likely to be presented soon before the Cabinet.

"The GoM headed by the defence minister cleared the Bill. Now, we are all set to present it before the Cabinet and then it will be introduced in Parliament," Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said. The GoM clearance came months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year here, had said he recognised the "legitimate desire" of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in the governance of India.