Indian Citizenship for Pakistani, Bangladeshi Hindu Refugees Soon?
The Centre would make changes in the Citizenship Act, 1955, to extend citizenship rights to Hindu refugees.
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The Central Government is all set to make amendments to its Citizenship Act 1955, to give citizenship rights to Hindus from Bangladesh and Pakistan, reported The Times of India.
A section of the act would also ensure that they are no longer termed as “illegal migrants”. Additionally, the government would be making changes to the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, and Foreigners Act, 1946.
The amendments would give legal rights to Hindu immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh who had left their respective countries to escape persecution. In its 2014 manifesto for Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had promised citizenship to Hindu refugees. Following which, the party went ahead to ensure long-term visas for the refugees until they were granted citizenship.
The government had also offered long-term visa holders Aadhaar cards, driving licences and PAN cards to facilitate the stay of the long-term visa holders.
The Times of India report marks out the jarring contrast between the government’s treatment of refugees from Hindu and Muslim minorities.
While changes are being incorporated for the former community, the latter are written off as “outsiders”. The distinction emphasises the Centre’s unequivocal desire to provide shelters to Hindus even from outside India.