New Delhi: In 2023, as many as 86 Indians faced attacks or were killed overseas, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament on Thursday. A sharp rise from the last two years of 29 instances in 2021 and 57 in 2022.
Among these, 12 were located in the United States, while there were 10 in both Canada, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, according to the information provided.
These matters have also been discussed during meetings with the government representatives of the specific countries concerned at the “highest levels”.
“The safety and security of Indians abroad is one of the foremost priorities for the government of India. Our missions and posts remain vigilant and closely monitor any untoward incident. Such incidents are immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that the cases are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished,” said Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Parliament during the winter session on Thursday, December 13.
When inquired about the statistics concerning Indian citizens who have willingly renounced their citizenships in the past 5 years, including state-wise, year-wise data and the motives behind the renunciation, he responded, “According to the information held by the Ministry, the figures for Indians who renounced their citizenship were 1,44,017 (in 2019); 85,256 (in 2020); 1,63,370 (in 2021); 2,25,620 (in 2022); and 2,16,219 (in 2023). For reference, the data figures were 1,22,819 (in 2011); 1,20,923 (in 2012); 1,31,405 (in 2013); 1,29,328 (in 2014); 1,31,489 (in 2015); 1,41,603 (in 2016); 1,33,049 (in 2017); 1,34,561 (in 2018).
Nevertheless, the distribution of individuals who gave up Indian citizenship for foreign citizenship on a state-wise basis was not accessible.
He provided a list of 135 countries, such as Algeria, Australia, Austria, Greece, Iran, Iraq, China, Pakistan, South Korea, the US, the UK, and Ukraine, from which Indians have obtained citizenship.
He also highlighted that the Centre has set up a “24×7 helpline at Indian Missions/Posts overseas” to support Indian citizens.
In a separate note, the government reported that 2,16,219 Indians renounced their citizenship, which is lower than the 2,25,620 from 2022, according to the data.
