12-16-2006, 08:20 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Pak Hindu refugees wait for citizenship </b>
Pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Seven hundred thirty one Hindu refugees from Pakistan may not be able to get Indian citizenship if the Centre refuses to relax the conditions to give this status to them for which they are waiting for years.
In the wake of the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan, many Pakistani Hindus crossed the international boarder illegally, as they feared harassment at the hands of Pakistani authorities who suspected them as spies of Indian intelligence agencies. There were many Hindus who came to India with legal documents and refuse to go back for the same the reason.
Most of these Hindu citizens of Pakistan were either from the Sindh region or Bahawalpur districts in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Though the Hindus who came from Sindh belonged to the Rajput community, those from Bahawalpur were mostly Naiks, a schedule caste community, living on the either side of the international border.
The Sodha Rajputs preferred to live in Jodhpur and Bikaner, whereas Naiks liked to stay in Hanumangarh and Srigangangar, as they had many close relations in the area.
After a long legal battle with the Union Government, they succeeded in convincing the Government to give them the Indian citizenship. But the Union Home Ministry laid stringent conditions to give them the Indian citizenship.
But with persuasion of the Rajasthan Government, many of these conditions were relaxed. About three years back, the Union Government authorised the district collectors in Rajasthan to give Indian citizenship to these refugees.
The eligibility period of seven-year stay in India was reduced to five years. At the same time, the application money was brought down to Rs 500 from the usual Rs 1,000. The last date for filing the applications was February 28, 2006. Taking advantage of the relaxed conditions a total of 13,550 Hindu refuges from Pakistan applied and got Indian citizenships.
Owing to various reasons about 731 of the refugees could not submit their applications in time. On the pursuance of Pak Vishthapit Sangh, an organisation of Hindi refugees from Pakistan, the State Government urged the Centre to extend the deadline for submitting the applications.
Some time back Union Home Ministry informed the State Government that the last date for submitting the applications had been extended to February 28, 2007. But at the same time it said that there would not be any relaxation in the seven-year stay and fee of Rs 1000, which was applicable to those who applied earlier.
This has left 731 Hindu citizens from Pakistan in high and dry, as most of them are financially very week and do not have relevant documents to prove their stay India.
Talking to The Pioneer, Hindu Singh Sodha, president of the Pak Vishthapit Sangh, said the Government must formulate a refugee policy, particularly for people coming from Pakistan, to provide them Indian citizenship.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why NDA delayed giving them citizenship?
One can't expect anything for Hindus through current government who claims Muslims had first right in India's resources.
Pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Seven hundred thirty one Hindu refugees from Pakistan may not be able to get Indian citizenship if the Centre refuses to relax the conditions to give this status to them for which they are waiting for years.
In the wake of the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan, many Pakistani Hindus crossed the international boarder illegally, as they feared harassment at the hands of Pakistani authorities who suspected them as spies of Indian intelligence agencies. There were many Hindus who came to India with legal documents and refuse to go back for the same the reason.
Most of these Hindu citizens of Pakistan were either from the Sindh region or Bahawalpur districts in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
Though the Hindus who came from Sindh belonged to the Rajput community, those from Bahawalpur were mostly Naiks, a schedule caste community, living on the either side of the international border.
The Sodha Rajputs preferred to live in Jodhpur and Bikaner, whereas Naiks liked to stay in Hanumangarh and Srigangangar, as they had many close relations in the area.
After a long legal battle with the Union Government, they succeeded in convincing the Government to give them the Indian citizenship. But the Union Home Ministry laid stringent conditions to give them the Indian citizenship.
But with persuasion of the Rajasthan Government, many of these conditions were relaxed. About three years back, the Union Government authorised the district collectors in Rajasthan to give Indian citizenship to these refugees.
The eligibility period of seven-year stay in India was reduced to five years. At the same time, the application money was brought down to Rs 500 from the usual Rs 1,000. The last date for filing the applications was February 28, 2006. Taking advantage of the relaxed conditions a total of 13,550 Hindu refuges from Pakistan applied and got Indian citizenships.
Owing to various reasons about 731 of the refugees could not submit their applications in time. On the pursuance of Pak Vishthapit Sangh, an organisation of Hindi refugees from Pakistan, the State Government urged the Centre to extend the deadline for submitting the applications.
Some time back Union Home Ministry informed the State Government that the last date for submitting the applications had been extended to February 28, 2007. But at the same time it said that there would not be any relaxation in the seven-year stay and fee of Rs 1000, which was applicable to those who applied earlier.
This has left 731 Hindu citizens from Pakistan in high and dry, as most of them are financially very week and do not have relevant documents to prove their stay India.
Talking to The Pioneer, Hindu Singh Sodha, president of the Pak Vishthapit Sangh, said the Government must formulate a refugee policy, particularly for people coming from Pakistan, to provide them Indian citizenship.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why NDA delayed giving them citizenship?
One can't expect anything for Hindus through current government who claims Muslims had first right in India's resources.