Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 7: Following the recent Lok Sabha elections, Congress leaders have pledged to continue advocating for changes that would allow Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to stay in India for up to 182 days, facilitating their ability to manage businesses and contribute to the Indian economy. They are also pushing for the introduction of online voting rights for NRIs.

Dr Arathi Krishna, the secretary of the All India Congress Committee, emphasized that a Congress-led government would have reinstated the previous policy allowing NRIs a stay of 182 days, as opposed to the current 120 days.

Speaking to Daijiworld, she said, “If NRIs get more days to stay in India, they can effectively manage their businesses and invest more in various sectors like tourism and the food industry. On behalf of the NRIs, we will continue to press the new government for these changes.”

Highlighting the NRIs’ keen interest in participating in India's democratic process, Dr Krishna pointed out that many NRIs desire the ability to vote online or at their respective embassies. “Traveling all the way to India just for voting is prohibitively expensive for NRIs,” she said. Extending their stay and offering easier voting options would enable NRIs to manage their businesses more effectively and significantly contribute to the Indian economy, thereby securing their engagement and investment in the country's future, Dr Krishna said.