Voting rights for NRI's

"I recognize the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet in New Delhi last year. And in no time he has set the ball rolling. Addressing the longest standing demands of 11 million plus NRI community members, the government has agreed to allow NRIs to vote for elections in India. Not only voting rights, the NRIs can now also stand for elections, the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Rules, 2011 declares. This decision by the government has brought in mixed emotions among the Indians in India and abroad. A large number of NRIs in the U.S., and Canada said that standing for elections would bring them closer to their motherland and help them get directly involved in its decision-making process. A majority of them were happy that they would play more roles, other than just sending money to their loved ones. Back in India, most of them are of the opinion that NRIs don't hold any connection with their motherland and they moved out to explore the greener pastures across borders for their own good. In a way they let go of their country that they were born in, where they were educated and brought up, with its culture ingrained so deep, that you cannot shake it off however hard one may try. For many middle-class Indians, seeking a green card is a dream and once they achieve that, there is no looking back. The Indian middle class, after all, is known for not participating enthusiastically in elections. Sometimes they have also been called as the 'RNIs' or 'Resident Non Indians' for living in gated communities and being cut off from the realities of the real India. Residents in India feel that giving NRIs the option to stand for elections would make politics even more driven by money power and democracy more elitist. It is questionable whether NRIs understand the nitty gritty of day-to-day politics and how will they really involve them in development in India. "India does not expect money from its sons who have settled abroad. It expects that they come and stay here for a while and guide locals and contribute to development by sparing their knowledge, time and experience." Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said.