http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/oct/05aziz3.htm
Can someone please interpret this? Some of us have OCI. What is the minister talking abt? I dont get it
DIO
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/oct/05aziz3.htm
Can someone please interpret this? Some of us have OCI. What is the minister talking abt? I dont get it
DIO
I read that too...See the following link.
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/read.php?TID=18829
Just a publicity stunt by the politicians...
Hiren
I tried Google News search but the above-mentioned article is in Rediff only.
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The first thing I did was to check the date in the article to see if it was current (and it was). 
This guy had probably lost his marbles if he does not know that the OCI scheme has been around for 2 years now and is claiming credit for "introducing" it . Kinda like Al Gore saying that he invented the internet 
I am surprised that no one from the audience hallenged him and even the journalist who reported this, did not call the bluff
Location: carl sagan's universe
Posted on: 05-10-07 17:08:44
Actually personally I think it is the journalist who messed this up.
When Vayalar Ravi was here in TO he was just explaining the difference between OCI and PIO. He was just comparing the OCI to the green card, trying to simplify things.
As far as I could see he was very clear about it. He never claimed to have introduced it.
My personal opinion is that the journalist was high when he wrote the article or misunderstood Mr Ravi or perhaps maybe he did say whatever the journalist claims and he (Vayalar) was high at that moment.
Just as an FYI, Vayalar Ravi's English isn't the best either, so maybe whatever he said could be interpreted in several ways.
Or maybe the journalist is making fun of his Engliah...whatever
Location: carl sagan's universe
Posted on: 05-10-07 18:25:45
He also mentioned the OCI fees- what he said didn't make sense, but I have to say he had a sense of humour. HE Rajamani Lakshmi Narayan (note his name Rajamani= King money, Lakshmi=money again, Narayan=maoney again) also spoke BS on this.
Here's a brief summary of what occurred that evening at the Indian consulate.
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs visits Toronto.
Shri Vayalar Ravi of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was recently in Toronto for a whirlwind visit to give the Indian diaspora here insights into the initiatives the Indian government is undertaking to assist Indians settled overseas to build links to their homeland.
At a cocktail reception, well attended by several members of the Indian diaspora, at the Indian Consulate in Toronto on Sep 27, 2007, Vayalar Raviji informed us that his was a relatively new position at the young ministry formed by PM Dr. Manmohan Singh. In a very passionate and energetic speech Mr. Ravi stated: “I have a small but dedicated team of officers and in the ensuing months we hope to establish an institutional framework to reach out to and connect with the Indian diaspora across the globe”. He went on to say: “my focus will be to promote an interactive mode of functioning that will enable you, as much as us, to define the agenda of this ministry and shape its activities for the ensuing year. There is much that we can do to come together and much more that we can achieve by working together. Together, we must build a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership between India and its diaspora”. He followed by listing the accomplishments of India and how it has made its mark in the global corporate world and is still striding ahead generating more dreamers, doers and drivers from its pool of highly professional talent.
In the immediate future he envisions among other things, the success of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) program, starting a OCI/NRI university, establishing a single window for overseas Indian investments, to provide a handholding facility for prospective overseas Indian investors and the continuation of the successful annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas seminars that attract overseas Indians from all over the globe to converge upon a designated city in India to build business relationships. The upcoming one in January 2008 will be held in Delhi.
However, when questioned about the disparity in the OCI fees between the US, where it costs US$275, and in Canada (costing CAD 421), he had a very lame reply saying that though he had approached the minister of finance on this issue, the minister of finance brushed it aside and said it was unfortunate that the Indians in Canada are complaining about paying $150 more. He also commented that finance ministers are miserly in nature. H.E. Rajamani Lakshmi Narayan, the Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa, who had come down for the event, offered that we should show that Canadians are big hearted and not complain. Nothing concrete was offered to address this unfair issue. Consul-General Mr. Satish Mehta intervened and brought to a stop the animated discussion by saying they will definitely look into the matter.
Nonetheless, despite this sour taste in the mouth, it was a great evening whereby several speakers including Deepak Obrai, Conservative MP from Calgary, outlined the monumental triumphs of India and the great success of its citizens and diaspora.
