The Delhi High Court today said People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cannot represent India in international sports events saying they owe their allegiance to their adopted countries. Upholding the Centre”s policy of not allowing people of Indian origin holding foreign passport to represent the country in a sports event, Justice S Muralidhar said that as long as governemnt does not recognise dual citizenship in all aspects, foreign passport holders should not be permitted to play for India in international events.
“There is a justification in insisting that only Indian passport holders should represent India in an international sporting event. Those with foreign passports obviously owe their allegiance to the countries of which they hold passport,” the court said while rejecting the plea of two PIO spokespersons seeking its direction to be allowed to represent India in sports events.
“This court is of the view that the policy decision by the government restricting the right to represent India in international sporting events to Indian passport holders cannot be said to be arbitrary, irrational or unreasonable,” the court said. The court passed the order on petitions filed by two PIO Karan Kumar, a UK-based squash player, and US-based Robert Blanchette, challenging government”s policy not to allow them to play for India in international events.
“As long as the policy of the government does not recognise dual citizenship in all aspects, this court cannot accept the submission that even foreign passport holders should be permitted to play for India in international sporting events,” the court said.
The sad thing in india is because of our corrupt political and judicial system. Our leaders and judges are not worried about the country’s development in sports. They are just worried about looting our country somehow. Even pakistan allows dual citizenship and their sports is improving faster than ours as foreign based players are training the local players.
India needs overseas indians to improve sports in india. But until the current cunning politicians and judges are around this will not happen. It is sad but it is true.
I am an indian and I feel ashamed of our leaders and judges.
There is a reason why people give up Indian passport.
1) Facilities in India are poor. People who want to develop in the sports of their choice have better training facilities abroad.
2) To live abroad one has to obtain a visa.
3) It is easier to obtain a residency visa / citizenship after 3-5 years of staying abroad rather than keep coming back and returning on visitor visas.
4) You cannot stay for prolonged periods on visitor visas. Therefore, one is forced to take up residency or citizenship.
If after going through all this rigmarole and then choosing to play for India, this country cant say thank you to such persons I fail to understand their motivation.
This issue has been discussed at various levels many a times but I feel that once you surrender the Indian Passport (for what ever be the reason), you will de-linking the relationship with India. Hence, why do you like to represent India when we have other guys who are waiting for this. Apart from winning, it is the nations pride is also important.