08 January 2005	Saturday	26 Ziqa'ad 1425

MUMBAI, Jan 7: The Indian government said on Friday it would extend dual citizenship rights to people of Indian origin, fulfilling a long-sought wish of the country's vast diaspora.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said dual citizenship would be granted to all people of Indian origin living in other countries where local laws permitted its citizens to hold two nationalities.

"I'm happy to announce the facility of dual citizenship to all overseas Indians ... as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship," Singh told a gathering of Indian expatriates in the country's financial capital, Bombay.

India's expatriate community is believed to number some 25 million in around 110 countries. The former Bharatiya Janata Party government, which lost office in general elections last May, had pledged to permit dual citizenship. -AFP