Gulf NRIs protest in Mumbai for voting rights

NRIs from Gulf countries threatened to go on a hunger strike next month if it was not approved by the Centre.

Asserting that voting rights were a privilege granted by the constitution, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from Gulf countries on Monday threatened to go on a hunger strike next month if it was not approved by the Centre.

HT Image

"Voting right is a privilege and fundamental right of all Indians granted by the Constitution, but it is being denied to NRIs even though Central ministers had promised to grant it in the past," participants at a conference organised by Overseas Indian Integration Council and Indo-Arab Confederation Council (IACC) said.

If the long pending demand for voting rights was not granted by the Centre, NRIs would hold a day-long hunger strike in the first week of March outside the Parliament, IACC Chairman Attakoya Pallikhardy said.

The conference, inaugurated by Overseas Indian Integration Council President Jacob George, also asked the government to immediately stop travel agencies, which were recruiting women, especially from Kerala to Gulf countries, and using them for "immoral activities".