Goa NGO urges swift action to halt revocation of Indian Passports

The revocation directive, outlined in an internal circular issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on November 30, 2022, has left individuals who recently renewed their Indian passports, following birth registration in Portugal

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Goans for Goa (GFG) is calling for urgent government intervention to address the growing distress caused by the revocation of Indian passports.

The revocation directive, outlined in an internal circular issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on November 30, 2022, has left individuals who recently renewed their Indian passports, following birth registration in Portugal, in a state of turmoil, as reported by thegoan.net.

Individuals discovered their passports had been revoked when voluntarily surrendering them at the passport office, according to a press release from Kennedy Afonso, Convenor of GFG.

This issue is of utmost gravity, and the concern is palpable among Goans. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and NRI Commissioner Narendra Sarwaikar must acknowledge the distress caused by the revocation of Indian passports, disrupting lives and forcing some to exit the country on an exit permit only to return on a visit visa. Many others, hopeful for a resolution from the Goa government, have refrained from surrendering their passports, as indicated in the press release.

Additionally, revoked passport holders who applied for an X 1 visa months ago, with the intention of staying in India for a year, are still awaiting approval. This has left them in a legal limbo, potentially facing significant fines for overstaying.

GFG reiterates that while dual citizenship remains a suggested solution, immediate relief for those affected by passport revocation is the primary concern

The press release emphasizes the immediate need for the state government to urgently implore the Central Government and MEA to recall the circular, cease the revocation process, and extend a one-time amnesty for revoked passport holders to obtain a surrender certificate, facilitating their application for OCI status.

With over a year since the initiation of Indian passport revocations and no resolution in sight, the GFG questions the state government’s ability to provide relief to affected citizens. The press release highlights the irony of the government’s denial of dual citizenship to Goans while failing to address the plight of its own diaspora.

GFG reiterates that while dual citizenship remains a suggested solution, immediate relief for those affected by passport revocation is the primary concern. The government is urged to redirect its efforts to either rescind the circular or grant a one-time amnesty by issuing a Surrender Certificate. The press release warns that in the absence of solutions before the election code comes into effect, GFG may be compelled to seek relief from the High Court to alleviate the plight of affected individuals.

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