Chandigarh : Though the Punjabi diaspora has welcomed the Centre’s proposal to issue them Aadhaar cards, the NRIs want voting rights at least for the OCI (overseas citizen of India) cardholders.

The NRIs said the Aadhaar card facilitate their visit to their homeland.

Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of the US-based North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said: “It is high time the government accords voting rights to the diaspora and even give representation to them in the Rajya Sabha and all other constitutional boards and commissions.”

Mohinder Singh, an NRI based in Norway, said since the Union Government considered NRIs as the overseas citizens of India, there was no harm if they were given voting rights for it would further strengthen their bond with their motherland. Around 22 million Indians are settled in various countries. Of these, about 10 million are NRIs and the remaining are OCI cardholders. A person of Indian origin who had migrated and already acquired citizenship of other countries, except for Pakistan or Bangladesh, is generally eligible for the OCI card.

Kamaljit Hayre, a member of the Punjab NRI commission, said since the OCI cardholders enjoyed several rights, including doing business, acquiring property and life-long visa facility, they should also be given voting rights.

The Tribune (tribuneindia.com, Jan 15, 2016)