Times News Network

New Delhi, Feb 16:  The Union Cabinet has cleared amendments to Representation of People's Act bill under which non-resident Indians could now have voting rights.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cleared the amendments in section 20 of the Act so as to amplify the definition of 'ordinarily resident'.

Under the amended law, Indian nationals residing in foreign countries who have been absented from their place of their ordinary residence in India owing to their employment, education or otherwise to get their names in the electoral rolls and thus exercise their voting rights.

The cabinet also gave its approval for introduction of an amendment bill on the same in the current session of Parliament so that the NRIs have a sense of belonging.

The amendment bill will entitle the eligible citizens of India to cast their votes in Parliamentary and assembly elections when they are in their constituency and thus fully participate in the democratic process of nation-building and uphold their pride and prestige as citizens of India.