India is currently holding its largest parliamentary election, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1. However, Indian expatriates in Oman feel excluded from the democratic process as they are unable to vote from outside the country. Lijoys John, a long-time resident of Oman, emphasized the importance of allowing expats to participate in choosing their representatives.
Devika Baburaj, a chartered accountant in Muscat, highlighted that denying NRIs the right to vote in their host countries goes against democratic principles. Despite efforts by social groups like Kerala Wing, the Election Commission of India and the government are yet to make a final decision on remote voting for NRIs. Vinod Raghavan stressed the need for the government to implement remote voting to ensure equal rights for NRIs.
Aswan Sathyam, another resident of Muscat, emphasized the significant contributions NRIs make to the Indian economy and called for the right to vote from their country of residence. With advancements in technology, the Indian government should consider providing expats with the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Overall, allowing NRIs in Oman to vote remotely is crucial in upholding democratic values of inclusivity and equality.