My New Year's wish

I hope either Mr Modi or Mr Gandhi will rethink their party's narrow-minded position on dual citizenship

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day and it’s customary to start the year either with a resolution or a wish. I’ve had my fill of resolutions. I don’t seem to be able to keep them beyond the first few days. So let me see how I fare with a wish.

Mine is a simple and selfish one but I’m not the only person who would benefit if it was granted. Millions of others would too. India should accept the right of its citizens to have dual nationality. After all, if someone has secured this right, by parentage or residence, why should it not be permitted?

Citizenship is not just a privilege conferred by birth. It can also be a reflection of multinational parentage as well as an expression of self-identification. For example, children of British and Indian parents have a right to be both British and Indian and it’s unfair to insist that if they want to be Indian they must forsake the right to the other citizenship. Similarly, Indians who have lived abroad and come to identify with their new country have a right to accept its citizenship without forgoing their own. As things stand, both are not permitted by Indian law.

Let me, however, admit there are many highly regarded democracies that do not permit dual citizenship. India is by no means alone. The list includes Austria, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway. So, clearly, not allowing dual citizenship is not considered undemocratic in many leading democracies.

 

But look at the countries that do permit it. This list includes some of the most highly regarded democracies: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Sweden, the UK and USA. Why does India, a country that frequently boasts it’s the world’s largest democracy, not want to be part of this category?

In fact, several of our neighbours permit dual nationality. Bangladesh does, so too Sri Lanka and even Pakistan. China, Burma and Nepal do not. But are they examples to emulate?

Let’s now look at some of the reasons why dual citizenship is disallowed. One of the lesser ones is that it would permit citizens of countries inimical to India’s interests to qualify as Indian citizens. But this is easily tackled. Rather than bar dual citizenship altogether India could have a small list of countries with whom it’s specifically not permitted. Pakistan does. It only permits dual citizenship with 16 specified countries. India is not one of them.

A more important reason for barring dual citizenship is the claim it will dilute the meaning of Indian citizenship. I’m afraid this is nonsense. Those who do not want to retain Indian citizenship — and can acquire another one — can give it up whenever they want. Dual citizenship is for those who have the right to be citizens of other countries as well. And just because a person can also be British or American doesn’t make him less Indian.

Now some would argue that only a minority would fall into this category so why should there be a law just for them. My answer is why not? Many, if not most, are already part of the diaspora and successive governments have repeatedly reached out to them with Persons of Indian Origin and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards. They permit everything except ownership of agricultural land, voting rights and public office.

Finally, what does dual citizenship offer that OCI status does not? Very simply, it makes international travel exceptionally easy. It also permits you the right to live in the country of your second citizenship. For example, Pakistanis with British or American citizenship can visit most of Europe without visas. An Indian passport holder cannot. Instead, Indian citizens have a hellish time getting visas. 

So, as we count down the hours to 2019, I’m hoping either Mr Modi or Mr Gandhi will rethink their party’s narrow-minded position on dual citizenship and permit Indian citizens who are able to acquire second citizenship to do so. This would be a gain for those who can without any loss for anyone else. It’s also fair and makes sense. 

Alas, like so many other wishes one makes on New Year’s Eve, I have a feeling no one is listening!