A Member of Parliament from the CPI(M) raised significant concerns about a recent change in regulations regarding Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) registrations. He emphasized that being charged with a crime should not be enough to cancel someone’s OCI registration without a court confirming their guilt. He pointed out that a charge sheet is just a police document and does not carry any legal weight on its own. According to him, everyone has the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948.
The MP also noted that the notification appears to change existing laws without approval from Parliament, as the current legislation does not allow for new reasons for cancellation like being charge-sheeted.
In his statement, he acknowledged the important role OCI holders play in India. Many of them visit often to take care of family and participate in cultural and religious events. They also invest in Indian businesses and contribute to the nation’s development.
The MP expressed his concerns about how this new rule has caused distress among the global Indian community, who are valuable contributors to India’s growth. OCI cardholders maintain strong connections to the country, not just through family ties but also through cultural and economic activities. In the fiscal year 2024–25, India received around $135.46 billion in remittances from abroad, which was a 14% increase from the previous year and made up over 3% of the nation’s GDP. This highlights the significant impact of the Indian diaspora on the country’s economy, not only through remittances but also through investments and philanthropic efforts that boost India’s development in various ways.
