02-03-2004, 12:27 AM
<b>Hundreds await Indian citizenship</b>
Manoj Raut and Sidharth Pandey
Monday, February 2, 2004 (Mammera village):
For more than 20 years, hundreds of Pakistanis who crossed over to India have been living as second-rate citizens because the centre is yet to decide on their request for citizenship.
While many such people have their lands and relatives in neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Punjab, they have been living in other states because their visas and the local police do not allow them to move about freely.
Out of Karachi
Twelve years ago, Deeko Ram had to flee Pakistan along with his family after violence broke out in Karachi in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
His family took refuge in Ellanabad in Haryana. Today Deeko and his sons earn their living by supplying shoes in the local market.
"We do not have citizenship and the CID and the police follow us wherever we go. We cannot get proper jobs," said Ghuma Ram, another person who fled from Pakistan.
Their plight is similar to hundreds of others who have crossed over into India in search of a new home.
While many of these families were lucky to settle in their ancestral villages in Rajasthan and Punjab, those in Ellanabad couldn't because the government had reduced the number of visas to these states in order to curb this influx.
"All my relatives are in Rajasthan. The sarpanch has also written to say that our lands are all there and have asked us to come there and lay claim to these lands. But we cannot go as there is a fear that we will get arrested and they will put us in jail," said Puran Ram.
"Our problem is that we stay here but all our relatives are in Rajasthan. Once we get nationality, we can move more freely and I can go there and start working in our fields. We can earn something also," said Tula Ram.
Police gaze
The local administration says that it has only managed to process applications of people who crossed over two decades ago. Those that came later are still to be verified by the police.
"The CID and the police have to keep a watch as they are from Pakistan. It is obvious that there will be hardships as there will be some restrictions as the matter is between the state and centre," said D Suresh, DC, Sirsa.
Many families are also worried about the status of their relatives and friends who were unable to make the journey to India.
But they now hope that the thaw in Indo-Pak relations will allow them to establish links with the estranged
Manoj Raut and Sidharth Pandey
Monday, February 2, 2004 (Mammera village):
For more than 20 years, hundreds of Pakistanis who crossed over to India have been living as second-rate citizens because the centre is yet to decide on their request for citizenship.
While many such people have their lands and relatives in neighbouring states like Rajasthan and Punjab, they have been living in other states because their visas and the local police do not allow them to move about freely.
Out of Karachi
Twelve years ago, Deeko Ram had to flee Pakistan along with his family after violence broke out in Karachi in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
His family took refuge in Ellanabad in Haryana. Today Deeko and his sons earn their living by supplying shoes in the local market.
"We do not have citizenship and the CID and the police follow us wherever we go. We cannot get proper jobs," said Ghuma Ram, another person who fled from Pakistan.
Their plight is similar to hundreds of others who have crossed over into India in search of a new home.
While many of these families were lucky to settle in their ancestral villages in Rajasthan and Punjab, those in Ellanabad couldn't because the government had reduced the number of visas to these states in order to curb this influx.
"All my relatives are in Rajasthan. The sarpanch has also written to say that our lands are all there and have asked us to come there and lay claim to these lands. But we cannot go as there is a fear that we will get arrested and they will put us in jail," said Puran Ram.
"Our problem is that we stay here but all our relatives are in Rajasthan. Once we get nationality, we can move more freely and I can go there and start working in our fields. We can earn something also," said Tula Ram.
Police gaze
The local administration says that it has only managed to process applications of people who crossed over two decades ago. Those that came later are still to be verified by the police.
"The CID and the police have to keep a watch as they are from Pakistan. It is obvious that there will be hardships as there will be some restrictions as the matter is between the state and centre," said D Suresh, DC, Sirsa.
Many families are also worried about the status of their relatives and friends who were unable to make the journey to India.
But they now hope that the thaw in Indo-Pak relations will allow them to establish links with the estranged