Panaji: Goans born before Goa was liberated on December 19, 1961, and who registered their births in Portugal after 1961, will not be considered Portuguese nationals. Goans who hold Portuguese passports will not be considered Indian citizens.

These are recommendations made to the ministry of home affairs by its three-member, high-level committee appointed to deliberate on Goa’s dual citizenship issue, and headed by additional secretary (home) B K Prasad.

Speaking to STOI, U D Kamat, director, NRI commission of Goa—which is coordinating with the committee and MHA on the issue—said if these recommendations are accepted, MHA will have to amend the Indian Citizenship Act or issue a clarification notification so that those Goans who have registered their births in Lisbon , Portugal, do not lose their Indian citizenship.

The recommendations came about after the committee held a series of meetings in March this year with lawyers in Goa well-versed with Portuguese law, defence minister Manohar Parrikar , NRI commissioner Wilfred Mesquita and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar.

One of the suggestions received during the meetings was that Goans who have registered their births in Portugal should be allowed to issue a declaration stating that they are Indian citizens and that they registered their births in Portugal for the better future of their children.

The dual citizenship issue has seen several FIRs filed against persons, including politicians, police personnel, etc.

Children of those born before Goa’s liberation and with their births registered in Portugal are also eligible to register their births in Portugal and to obtain citizenship or a ‘bilhete de identidade’ considered as good as citizenship.

Many Goans use the bilhete to travel across Europe as it makes the Schengen visa redundant. Many have also sought employment in Europe on the basis of the bilhete.

Government statistics show around 40,000 Goans have registered their births in Portugal, but, do not have a Portuguese passport or a ‘bilhete de identidade’.

