NEW DELHI: India would be open to giving asylum to Hindus from Pakistan if they ask for it. Some 250-odd Hindus have arrived recently and most are keen on seeking permanent residence in India as they fear persecution in Pakistan.

India is “surprised” at the sudden influx of Hindus from Pakistan who have indicated that they will ask for asylum after arriving here for an annual pilgrimage or tourism visit, said government sources. In the past week, at least three batches of Hindus have come to India from Pakistan.

Although they were made to sign documents promising to return before being allowed to cross into India, many of them have said they would ask for asylum here.

If these Hindus approach the government — sources said they had not yet done so — it would be an inter-ministerial decision. However, sources said “India does not generally turn away asylum seekers.”

The plight of Hindus in Pakistan has figured in Parliament with BJP leader Rajnath Singh forcefully raising the religious and human rights violations the community faces in the neighbouring country. He found the support of other parties with BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab saying India should offer shelter to Hindus migrating from Pakistan. Mahtab said Pakistan has been unable to protect its minorities.

Migration of Hindus an embarrassment for Pakistan

The plight of Hindus in Pakistan figured in Parliament on Tuesday with BJP leader Rajnath Singh forcefully raising the religious and human rights violations the community faces in the neighbouring country.

Punjab Congress has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for government intervention to provide Hindus refuge from Pakistan. Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP said the issue should be dealt with on a humanitarian level and India should not stay silent.

The latest group of 14 Hindus came via Attari on Monday, after 250 came over last week. They bring harrowing tales of harassment, violence and death at the hands of Islamists.

These migrations are embarrassing to Pakistan. In his Independence Day speech, Pakistan army chief General Kayani made a pointed reference to the security of minorities. He recalled that in the original mandate, Pakistan was to be an Islamic welfare state. Without a specific reference to the Hindus, Kayani said minorities in Pakistan should be free to live and work and practice their faith without fear.

The Hindus who crossed the border on Monday said they would flout their promise to return and would stay on in India. They alleged severe persecution, harassment, forced conversion, extortion and abduction and forced marriages of young girls by Islamist groups in Pakistan. The groups are mainly residents of Sindh and Balochistan. About 250 Hindus were briefly detained at the border by Pakistani authorities. They were allowed to enter India after signing a commitment to return, and told not to criticize Pakistan while in India.

Government sources said these Hindus had been given visas like other regular Pakistanis, as this is generally the time of the year when they arrive on pilgrimage around Janmashtami.

The issue is certain to feature in the discussions when foreign minister S M Krishna travels to Islamabad for talks with his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. In May, Krishna had told Parliament, “It is the responsibility of the government of Pakistan to discharge its constitutional obligations towards its citizens, including those from the minority community.” But the migrations might change the issue.

The trials and tribulations of Pakistani Hindus came into limelight when a 14-year-old girl, Manisha Kumari, was kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam and married off. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Supreme court heard the case of three women , Rinkie, Asha and Lata, who allegedly faced the same fate. Last month, a 20-year-old, Sunil “converted” to Islam on TV, during Ramzan, to the delight of a cheering audience.