NRIs to get voting rights: Moily

New Delhi, July 12 (ANI): Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily has said the Central Government is planning to provide voting rights to Non-Resident Indians and steps are being taken to make it a reality.

"The Law ministry has initiated a scheme to provide voting rights to NRIs and it will become a reality soon," said Moily to the members of the Indian Overseas Congress (UK) in London on Sunday evening.

On being asked that the NRIs demand for right to vote in India was pending for long, Moily said necessary legislation for that purpose would be enacted soon, adding that the NRI's would have to visit India at the time of the elections.

Moily further said efforts would also be made to provide voting facilities at the concerned Indian Missions abroad.

"There are an estimated over 22 million NRIs spread all over the world. The purpose of registration as voters in India, their last address in India would be taken into consideration," said Moily.

"The right to vote would, however, not be available to NRIs, who have acquired citizenship of other countries," he added.

Moily also assured the UK-based NRIs that he would take up the issue of providing visa-free travel facilities to them in the European Union. (ANI)