Voting rights for NRIs from the next general election: Prime Minister
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 08, 2010
PM Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Friday said that Indians residing overseas will get a chance to exercise their franchise from the next general elections. He said this after inaugurating the 8th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas Sammelan (Overseas Indians Conclave) in New Delhi.
Prime Minister said, "I recognise the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India."
He also urged overseas Indians to return home to join politics and work in public life as they are already doing in business and academia.
Delegates at Pravasi Diwas
Dr. Manmohan Singh asked the second generation of the Diaspora to connect with the ancestral country.
However, Prime Minister noted that the foreign direct investment in India by overseas Indians is low and far short of potential.
He said that sometimes some people are frustrated with the slow pace of things and why policies are not implemented the way they ought to be.
PM greeting the Delegates
Defending India's democratic credential he said that we are proud of the fact that we are taking everyone along in our developmental efforts.
He compared India with a slow moving elephant saying that we may be moving slowly but once we take a step forward we leave deep footprints.
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that the newly established Overseas Indian Facilitation Center will become an effective hub for promoting two-way interaction between the overseas Indian community and local institutions.
