Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday gave Indian Citizenship certificate to 78-year-old Pakistani Christian under the amended Citizenship Act, 1955.
Sawant in presence of State tourism minister Rohan Khaunte handed over the certificate to Joseph Francis Pereira, who had left Goa before the liberation and attained Pakistani citizenship, living in Karachi.
The chief minister said that though Pereira was married to a Goan girl, he faced hurdles to get Indian Citizenship till the central government led by Narendra Modi amended the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The certificate mentions that Pereira has been registered as a Citizen of India under the Provisions of Section 6 B and fulfilling the conditions under section 5 (1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 with effect from the date of entering into India.
The 1946 born Pereira is married to Maria and has entered India on September 11, 2013 after his retirement from the service, as per the government records.
Pereira is originally from Paroda village in South Goa but currently is residing at Cansualim in the same district, with his family.
Talking to reporters, Sawant said that there are similar Goans who can be given citizenship certificate under the amended Act.
He said that Pereira is the first Goan to get this certificate but across India, many have taken the advantage of this amendment to get Indian Citizenship.
Sawant said that Goa Home Department has began surveying such people. “If anyone is eligible for the certificate, he can contact the government,” he added.
