Actor Akshay Kumar who recently grabbed headlines for his "non-political" interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was widely trolled for not casting his vote in Mumbai on April 29 when the city went for Lok Sabha elections in the fourth of seven-phase Lok Sabha election.
Kumar could not have voted in the elections as he holds a Canadian passport. India does not allow dual citizenship.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 3, 2019
Indians who go and stay abroad, have been broadly categorised in three broad categories- NRIs, PIOs and OCIs. NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) are essentially Indians who live in another country. PIOs and OCIs want to stay connected with India more closely.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech at Madison Square Garden, New York in September 2014 announced the merger of PIO and OCI schemes. The government notified in 2015 that all the existing Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders registered as such under new PIO Card scheme 2002, shall be deemed to be Overseas Citizens of India Cardholder.
All PIO card holders with valid PIO cards as on January 9, 2015 were advised to apply for conversion of their PIO card to OCI card.
The government later extended the date for submission of the application for registration as OCI cardholder by the erstwhile PIO cardholders till June 30, 2017.
I love your honesty sir 💕💕 pic.twitter.com/iHAPWmETu5
— Chowkidar Nirav Modi (@niiravmodi) May 3, 2019
There is a clear and unambiguous definition of overseas voters who can participate in the election.
A citizen of India, who is absent from the country owing to employment, education etc, and has not acquired citizenship of any other country is Overseas Voter and is eligible to be registered as a voter in the address mentioned in their Indian passport.
Such a voter can use the interactive map to find the polling station and contact details of election officers from your area. He or she is required to fill an enrolment form and upload it online at www.nvsp.in and upload the requisite proofs.
The form can also be downloaded from the Election Commission website and are also available free of cost in Indian Missions. The form can be submitted in person or by post and the verification process then kicks in.
Name of overseas elector is included in a separate section fo" "Overseas Electo"s" which is the last section of the roll of each polling station area.
An overseas elector is not issued an electronic photo-identity card and he or she is allowed to vote in person at the polling station on production of original passport. No person can be enrolled on more than one electoral roll.
Bureau of Immigration under Home Ministry had said that it would accept PIO card as valid document till March 31, 2019 along with valid foreign passport.
Akshay Kumar: Really don’t understand unwarranted interest&negativity about my citizenship.I have never hidden or denied that I hold a Canadian passport. It is also equally true that I have not visited Canada in the last seven years. I work in India, and pay all my taxes in India pic.twitter.com/n1HqAsm1EL
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019
"Toronto is my home, after I retire from this industry I will settle in Canada" pic.twitter.com/Ypet1U0oBJ
— Tarique Anwer (@tanwer_m) May 3, 2019
So @akshaykumar who traded in his Indian passport is a Modi “patriot”
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 3, 2019
Sonia Gandhi who gave up her Italian citizenship is a “foreigner” according to Bjp
Akshay Kumar threatening a Poor Indian saying "Never question my love for Canada" meanwhile Naseeruddin Shah whispering "Aur Log Mujhe Anti-National bolte hain". (2019) pic.twitter.com/r2LASbtJv1
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) May 3, 2019
https://i2.wp.com/www.altnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/download-17.png?w=1368&ssl=1
I am an honorary citizen of Canada. I think people should be proud of: @akshaykumar #AkshayOnTheNewshour pic.twitter.com/GB2qTz18eB
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 11, 2017
So, it seems @akshaykumar gae up Indian citizenship and became Canadian citizen.
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 3, 2019
And the bit about "honorary" citizenship wasn't just a dodge or slip of tongue. It was a lie, as per this report. https://t.co/h1UjubgIDd
One of the most honest and straightforward human being I have ever come across in my film career and life . Every word spoken here is a TRUTH and we are all with you @akshaykumar . Let the irrelevants boo and bark . https://t.co/JH44ofvkN6
— Chowkidar Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) May 3, 2019
‘Thank you, but TN is home: AR Rahman in response to Canadian mayor's invite’ https://t.co/6fNF7u9eD4 Wonder what @akshaykumar has to say about this. After all he presents himself as a great nationalist. Jai Hind.
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) May 3, 2019
Liberals = #AkshayKumar holds a Canadian Passport, he shud not teach us abt Nationalism, Not In Name, Not my Actor..
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) May 3, 2019
Same Liberals = Agar #RaulVinci british citizen hai to kya Farkk padta hai??? Yehi paida hua, yehi bada hua, desh ka Dulara hai, Mera Jamai hai
WE LOVE AKSHAY
So @akshaykumar has claimed in multiple interviews that he holds honorary citizenship of Canada. @AltNews found the claim to be untrue by perusing through official Canadian Govt websites. Read more to find out. https://t.co/9Pca21g2nd
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 3, 2019
Dear @akshaykumar ji, no one can question your patriotism. Your motivation to our Armed Forces personnel and the way you generated funds for our martyrs through #BharatKeVeer programme will remain an example for every patriotic Indian. https://t.co/RdFl2oyKhF
— Chowkidar Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 3, 2019