Dual Citizenship is not permitted under Article 9 of the Indian Constitution, said MoS for External Affairs

India has once again maintained its stand clear on dual citizenship, stating it is not permitted under Article 9 of the Constitution as read with Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan on Friday stated that Dual Citizenship is not permitted under Article 9 of the Indian Constitution as read with Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

He also told the House that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) aims to facilitate grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and have entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

The CAA came into force on 10.01.2020 and persons covered by this Amendment Act can submit applications for grant of Indian citizenship after appropriate Rules are notified by the Central Government.

Responding to a question, he also said that the government accords highest priority to safety, security and well-being of Indian citizens abroad. “Our Missions and Posts abroad remain vigilant, and closely monitor and actively follow up grievances of Indians with the authorities concerned in foreign countries,” the Minister said, adding the e-Migrate portal, Pre-Departure Orientation Training Programme, MADAD portal, Indian Community Welfare Fund, are important mechanisms in this regard.

Grievances are also registered and responded through various channels like calls, walk-in, e-mails, Twitter, Whatsapp, 24 x 7 Helpline and other Social Media accounts of Missions and Posts, he said.

Regarding illegal migrants, he added that there is no precise estimate of the entire number of such infiltrators because illegal migrants attempt to enter the country secretly and clandestinely. However, he added that the local police departments and the Bureau of Immigration are involved in the ongoing process of identifying, apprehending, and expelling such illegal infiltrators.