Wednesday, January 12 2005 19:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Cautioning that granting of dual citizenship to all Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from all countries was fraught with danger, Leader of Opposition L K Advani today (Jan 12, 2005) asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if those who have indulged in virulent anti-India activities would be welcomed.

Addressing the Global Investors' Meet in Ahmedabad, Advani asked, "Does this mean that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and others, who have found safe havens in Pakistan and some Gulf countries, would be welcomed with dual citizenship?"

"Does this mean that millions of Bangladeshi infiltrators staying in India under the conniving eyes of Congress-Communist regime, can be granted dual citizenship if they claim that they were originally Indians who had migrated to East Pakistan?" Advani asked.

He said that while inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan in Mumbai, Singh had stated that "I am aware that this (dual citizenship) was promised at the previous two editions of this event and I regret that little has happened to implement this declaration of intent", Advani said adding he was, however, both baffled and deeply disappointed that "Singh had surrendered himself to the temptation of a politically motivated denigration of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government".

Advani said, "Let me put the records straight... On December 23, 2003, our Government got the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 passed in Parliament. This legislation confers the Right of dual citizenship to PIOs who are citizens of 16 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Greece, UK USA, Switzerland", Advani said.

"Given the immense complexities injected into our illegal migrant detection and deportation procedures by the Congress-Communist regimes, the Prime Minister's assurance would certainly be a sweet music to nearly 12 million officially estimated Bangladeshi infiltrators staying in India," Advani said.

The event, organised by the Gujarat Government, was inaugurated by Vice-President Bhaironsingh Shekawat and attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Reliance Group Chairman, Mukesh Ambani among others.