New Delhi, January 8
More than 1000 eminent members of the Indian diaspora from over 46 countries will converge here tomorrow for the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual event held in recognition of the significant role played by NRIs and people of Indian origin (PIO) in nation-building.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will inaugurate the three-day event and is expected to announce the much-awaited decision on the grant of dual citizenship to PIOs.

The decision to organise such functions recommendations was made by a high-level committee under the Chairmanship of Mr L.M. Singhvi which had suggested that the event be held every year on January 9 — the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to lead India’s freedom struggle.

There had been a persistent demand from the Indian diaspora, which currently numbers more than 20 million, for the grant of dual citizenship.

Under the existing Indian legislation — Citizenship Act of 1955— Indian citizenship is automatically forfeited when an Indian citizen acquires the passport of a foreign country.

The PIOs, however, had pointed out that they were often forced to acquire foreign passports for functional reasons and this did not imply renunciation of their loyalty to India.

The Singhvi Committee had recommended that the dual citizenship with appropriate safeguards would facilitate the contribution of the diaspora to India’s social, economic and technological transformation and national development.