HSMP Forum's Press Release

Dt – 21st December 2009

A large number of Indian Immigrants settled in the UK have urged the Indian government to act on dual citizenship proposals. Campaign groups - Highly Skilled Migrants (HSMP) Forum and Association of Immigrants representing a large number of Indian immigrants having permanent residency and British citizenship said in a statement that Indian immigrants in the UK believe it is unfair on the Indian government’s part to deprive them of dual citizenship.

Just few days back HSMP Forum wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister of India on behalf of Indian Immigrants clearly stating that they cherished their Indian identity and wanted to retain it. The campaign is fast catching momentum and a large number of Indian Immigrants consisting of finance professionals, doctors, scientists, engineers and others settled in the UK have lashed out against the government’s irrational policy of single citizenship.

Dr Amaresh Swaro a UK General Physician from Orissa who has successfully obtained foreign citizenship said he wishes to retain his pride as an Indian citizen. He says, “Dual nationality gives us sense of belonging to our home country as well as our adopted country. Taking away our Indian citizenship just because my family and I have chosen another country to live in can have serious psychological impact. This also deters non-resident Indians from making investments which is crucial since NRIs bring billions of foreign currency into India.”

UK Horticulturist Mrs Bala Kompalli from Hyderabad says the dual citizenship will help her share her academic success with her colleagues back in India.  “Dual citizenship will help us remain committed and show gratitude to our home country which gave us the education and confidence to succeed in a foreign country.  For example, I wish to share new developments in my field with Indian scientific Organizations through travels and study trips.”

Dr. Subbulakshmi Natarajan who is from Chennai and an Education Consultant settled in London said, “I attained my doctorate degree in English from a renowned Indian university and worked in a reputed university as the Head of Department in India. By denying us dual nationality, aren't we deprived of the chance to serve our own country of birth? Are we refused our right just because we are recognised in a foreign country? Doesn't it sound like asking a woman to forget her parents, for her in-laws, where she treats them both with equal reverence?”

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card has been dismissed as a poor substitute by Indian Immigrants since it cannot replace the comfort and belonging of an Indian passport and takes away basic voting rights, something which even UK electoral laws allow Indian immigrants as Commonwealth citizens. 

Amol Karnik, a Credit Manager in the UK and originally a finance professional from Mumbai said, “It is very disappointing that whilst India is making tremendous economic progress, it still follows archaic laws regarding immigration policies. Some people might think dual citizenship is dangerous because it could lead to conflicting loyalties. But this is an overblown fear. I would like to compare it to one’s loyalty to a parent and spouse: an individual is bound to one by nature, and to the other by choice. One can love both equally strongly, but in different ways.”

Mr Karnik further said, “Political loyalty is quite different from nostalgia or the desire to work towards the land of one’s birth and the Indian government should not discourage this. Is it wrong for every Non-Resident Indian to wish to create a better future for those still in their homeland?”

Dr. Anuradha Sunil, a General Practitioner living in Reading, UK for the past 8 yrs and hailing from Chennai said, “I live with my 10-year-old son while my husband lives in India since he has businesses there. We travel between India and UK every 4-6 weeks. Since my son and I acquired British citizenship recently we have been forced to surrender our Indian passports. I am very upset about it. All our family members, relatives are based in India. The OCI card is no consolation and I feel my son has been stripped of his birthright to be a proud Indian. My father who is a farmer is distraught that his children will not be able to own a part of the ancestral land.”

Mrs. Bagyalaxmi Naidu living in Trichirappalli said, “I am an Indian national and three of my four children live in the US and UK. My husband and I have large areas of agricultural lands as our ancestral properties. My children have acquired foreign citizenship and we are quite unhappy that my children and grandchildren are made to forego their Indian citizenship. Being an Indian is an emotionally sensitive issue for us. It is very upsetting that my children and grandchildren will not be able to own our ancestral lands. It is high time that the government reconsiders and accords full citizenship status to people like my children.”

Baskaran Kumarasamy, executive committee member of the HSMP Forum said, “Many Indian Immigrants in the UK are disheartened regarding the dual citizenship issue. Unfortunately, the Indian Government has not done anything to address it. We are in the process of taking further action and are planning to organise a protest outside the Indian High Commission.”

Amit Kapadia, executive director of the HSMP Forum and Association of Immigrants said, “It is not only the Indian citizens who work and settle abroad but also their families, relatives and friends in India who would also want them to retain their Indian citizenship alongside their foreign documents. Denying dual citizenship is not only unfair but a clear disregard for India’s proudly held democratic ideals. Majority of the democratic countries offer dual citizenship or allow their citizens to apply for foreign citizenship without making them give up basic rights in their home country.”

Note for editors:

1)   HSMP Forum website:  http://www.hsmpforumltd.com