Lok Sabha Passes Citizenship Bill

02 March,New Delhi

The Lok Sabha today passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015 by voice vote to replace an ordinance promulgated in this regard. The Bill seeks merger of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes.

The Bill provides that the central government may notify that Persons of Indian Origin cardholders shall be considered to be Overseas Citizen of India card holder.Intervening in the debate on the bill,

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said ordinance was promulgated as Prime Minister had made a commitment to merge the two cards before January 9 this year, the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa.

Later replying to a a debate, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju clarified that India does not have the concept of dual citizenship. He said the PIO and OCI cardholders are close to citizenship status.

He also made it clear that the amendment bill does not deal with the issue of refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh and a task force is looking into the issue. He said people who apply for Indian citizenship will now be allowed a 30-day break if they have to leave India for sometime and their absence from the country will not affect their application for citizenship.

The Bill also allows the Central government to cancel the Overseas Citizenship of India card where it is obtained by the spouse of an Indian citizen or Overseas Citizen of India card holder, if the marriage is dissolved by a court or the spouse enters into another marriage even while the first marriage has not been dissolved.