India is safe for NRIs: Patil

Seeking to allay any security related apprehensions of non resident Indians, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Monday assured them that India was as safe as any other part of the world.

"We are duty bound to provide security to all those who come to India. The risk involved in carrying out activities (in India) is definitely not going to be more than in other parts of the world," he told the overseas Indians at the Pravasi Bharati Divas Conference in New Delhi.

"No apprehensions should be entertained by NRIs in this regard and we would be as effective in this respect as any other country or powers of the world can be," Patil said.

Presenting India as a happening place, the home minister said, "Please do not entertain any apprehension. We would be in a position to provide security."

Noting that India provided abundant investment opportunities in the fields of electronic and genetic engineering, he said, "Sky is the limit for development and cooperation."

Patil said the NRIs could also assist in the field of electronic hardware even though India has made rapid inroads in the software sector.

In the area of genetic science, he said though India had the geographical advantages to pursue it, the contributions of Pravasi (overseas) Indians would be welcome in bringing skill and technology.

He said a synergy of the genetic wealth and genetic science could bring about a revolution.

Another area of vital importance, the minister said, was ocean bed energy and called for mutual cooperation between the NRIs and the government.