Panaji
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday assured the state assembly that he will explore the possibility of the ministry of external affairs granting a citizenship option to those Goans who have registered their births in Portugal, similar to the one given to the residents of Puducherry, which was a former French colony.
Responding to a private member's resolution moved by Congress MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Sawant said, "I am scheduling a meeting with the ministry of external affairs on February 17 to present our proposal, and would highlight among the option provided to Puducherry residents after a thorough study."
If necessary, a joint meeting with the ministry of external affairs and the Union Home Minister can be convened, the Chief Minister said, adding that he has apprised the home ministry of Goa's concerns.
"We expect a comprehensive response following their detailed study, he said.
In his resolution Ferreira sought dual citizenship for Goans with Portuguese links, citing the peculiar circumstances by which Goa, Daman and Diu were liberated from Portugal in 1961 and the consequent conferment of Indian citizenship on those erstwhile Portuguese nationals.
Ruling MLAs Nilesh Cabral and Digambar Kamat suggested exploring a solution akin to the Citizenship (Pondicherry) Order, 1962, which granted residents of Puducherry the option to choose between Indian and French citizenship.
They proposed to move a resolution to consider granting a similar option to Goans, allowing them to choose either Indian or Portuguese citizenship.