India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Indian Consul General Ashok Kumar Attri said here that his office would shortly resume accepting applications for Dual Citizenship from Indian Americans of Indian descent.He said that his office had stopped accepting the new applications for the past few months as a sequel to the heavy backlog and pile up, but the same is being processed now and it would be a matter of time now that his office would once again be ready for fresh applications.

He was responding to a question from a Divya Bhaskar reporter who sought his views on PIO card now that the Dual Citizenship process had been halted. He observed that his office does accept PIO card requests but in his view, Dual Citizenship would be a better proposition.Attri was a guest at a private dinner organized in his honor by a group of Indian journalists at Chopal Restaurant on Devon Avenue Chicago last week.

He was accompanied by his wife, Usha Attri, and a guest from New Delhi, Uma Khanna, wife of Lt. Governor Khanna. Attri was also asked by TV Asia about non-documented Indians who desire going back to India for good and are being denied visa (landing permits) or harassed by officials of Indian Consulate.

He said that the Indian Government had taken a clear stand that it did not want to encourage non documented emigrants to any country, including USA, and that its policy in scrutinizing visa applications (landing permits) was a logical extension of this stand. He however, assured that his office was not averse to granting visa or landing permits in cases where there was an emergency or the visit back home was induced by illness of a close relative.Madhu Patel also sought his views about the alleged irregularity in Consulate office in respect of giving passport to Indians.

Many, he said, had come legally but overstayed here and lost their passports. They are denied new passport unless some kind of gratifications were offered. Besides, in numerous instances those who could not get passports technically are given passports improperly on considerations. Attri assured that he would look into this and streamline the operations.Attri said that he desired a closer cooperation from not only Indian media but also from India Diaspora to enable him to discharge his function most efficiently.

"You are our ambassadors and its representatives as well. You are in a better position to create a greater awareness about changes taking place in India and create a favorable image of Indians. You have done a great deal in the past and we hope to look forward for still better support from you," he said acknowledging the active role that the community activists played in garnering support for Nuke deal.He also pointed out in this regard that there is a sea change in awareness about Indian progress of late. Earlier, there was a remarkable degree of ignorance about the progress made by India or problems faced by the country.

Even Indian Americans were pleasantly surprised that India was registering tremendous industrial and economic growth rate. Now, that is not the case. Ethnic Indian as well as American media played an important role in this increased understanding of Indian economy as well as work ethics Americans are more eager to know about investment and economic opportunities presented by India.

The degree and the nature of interest have changed, he observed and that this augured well for the country.Ramesh Soparawala of India Post welcomed the guests while Surendra Ullal proposed a vote of thanks. Among those who attended were Kishore and Meena Purohit, Ashok Easwaran, Harish Rao, Madhu Patel, Mohammed Ghouse and Vandana Jhingan.