New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to announce on January 9 the government's decision on grant of dual citizenship at a conference of over 1,000 persons of Indian origin (PIOs) and non-resident Indians (NRIs) gathering here for a three-day meeting.

The dual citizenship is likely to be confined to PIOs living in specified countries on the basis of reciprocity and will not be automatic. It will be government's prerogative whether to grant or not in the case of each applicant, according to sources.

The Prime Minister's announcement is expected to be made during his inaugural address at the first-ever 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' on January 9.

Over 1,200 NRIs and PIOs from 55 countries are participating in the three-day meet jointly organised by the External Affairs Ministry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The Prime Minister will present the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards' to 10 eminent NRIs and PIOs.

Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, who will be honoured along with nine others, will deliver a special address at the conference.

Vajpayee would light the lamp, marking the opening of the conference followed by invocation by sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar and shehnai wizard Bismillah Khan, both Bharat Ratna awardees.

PIOs in Pakistan will not be eligible for grant of dual citizenship. There are an estimated 20 million PIOs living abroad.

With no requirement for any Constitutional amendment, government is required to effect changes in the Citizenship Act by bringing the requisite Bill for Parliament's approval or enact a new Law.

Those who are granted dual citizenship, would be entitled to all rights and privileges enjoyed by Indian citizens but would not be allowed to contest elections nor have the right to exercise their franchise in this country.

All aspects of this measure was deliberated at length by the External Affairs, Home and Law ministries in consultation with the attorney general and the solicitor general.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan and Defence Minister George Fernandes will also address the conference.

Noted NRIs and PIOs including Nobel Laureates, Amartya Sen and V S Naipaul, former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu are attending the conference.

The conference will deliberate on steps for increasing the share of foreign direct investment by the Indian diaspora.

Apart from the inaugural function, the opening day of the 'Divas' would focus on 'India and the Diaspora – Forging a Constructive Relationship' and 'Science and Technology'.

Advani will have a special inter-active session on the second day. The plenary sessions on this day are: 'Culture, Language, Literature, Films and the Diasporic Identity', 'Voluntary Sector and Development: Diaspora and the emerging challenge in India's Social development -- Role of Pravasi

Bhartiyas' and 'Science and Technology – Networking for Excellence' among others.

On the last day, there will be a session on 'Indian states – leveraging the Diaspora' and another on 'Opportunities in Defence and Homeland security research and Development'.

'Pravasi Bhartiya Divas' will be observed in India and abroad every year on January 9 as it was on this day in 1915 Mahatma Gandhi finally returned to India after almost two decades in South Africa.

PTI

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