Panaji, May 16 — Opposition parties in Goa have lashed out at the BJP-led central and state governments following confusion over the documentation required for Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card registration. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) initially stated on April 4 that a ‘revocation certificate’ would be accepted instead of a ‘surrender certificate.’ However, a corrigendum issued on April 30 indicated that this change is still “under consideration” by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Opposition leader Yuri Alemao criticized the BJP for creating confusion and distress among citizens. “Once again, BJP’s ‘jumlas’ stand exposed with MEA backing out on its earlier memorandum, creating confusion over the OCI registration. Giving hardship and mental torture to citizens is in the DNA of BJP,” Alemao stated. He promised that the INDIA bloc would address this issue if they come to power in Goa in June.
Alemao also accused the BJP of neglecting Goan seafarers and overseas workers, demanding that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarify the government’s stance, especially after he had praised the initial MEA memorandum as “great news.”
Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of making a ‘U-turn’ on the OCI issue post-elections. “The double-engine government had no intention of bringing any relief to the thousands of Goans applying for OCI cards. The MEA’s earlier memorandum, which the Chief Minister called ‘great news,’ has now turned to ‘horrible news’ with the MEA passing the buck to the Home Ministry,” Sardesai remarked.
Revolutionary Goans Party Chief Manoj Parab also criticized the BJP, accusing them of “U-turn politics” and betraying Goan interests. “Election is over in Goa, and BJP’s ‘U-Turn’ politics continues. This time it’s an OCI matter. BJP’s ‘anti-Goan’ stand is once again exposed. Be it Mhadei or OCI, the BJP is only betraying Goa,” Parab stated.
The opposition’s criticisms highlight the ongoing discontent and uncertainty among Goans regarding the OCI card registration process and the BJP’s handling of the issue.
