Many Hindus waiting for train to Pakistan

JAISALMER: Pak minority Hindus who had come to India in search of a better future with hopes of starting a new life, leaving behind a life of forceful conversion and atrocities in Pak are continuously facing disappointement due to delay in getting citizenship and have have started returning to Pakistan . The number of them going back has continuously increasing and in last three years over 2000 Pak displaced Hindus have returned while many of these have converted to Islam .

India few years ago had announced that it will give citizenship to Hindu from Pakistan and district collectors were given power, though the results did not prove to be satisfactory. The rules and laws for giving citizenship are apparently quite tough because of which it is difficult for Pak displaced Hindus to get Indian citizenship.

In western Rajasthan at many areas Pak displaced Hindus are waiting for Indian citizenship for over a decade. Centre has organised camps to give citizenship twice but in these camps only forms were filled and formalities were completed but no one was given citizenship. According to an affidavit submitted in high court by the FRO and CID SP Shweta Dhankar a total 968 Pak displaced Hindus have returned to Pakistan between 2015 and 2017

According to sources in 2017, 44 Hindus have returned to Pakistan, whereas in 2018 till now 59 have returned to their native country. In 2016 this number was 9.

Jaisalmer former councillor and Pak displaced association president,Nathuram Bheel said,”Pak Hindus who are coming to India leaving everything in Pakistan are not getting anything here as well. They are coming here with hope of leading a good life but but eventually are losing all hope.Waiting period is getting longer, they have come here on religious visa and due to lack of paper and documents they are forced to go back.”

Seemanth Lok Sangathan president, Hindu Singh Sodha added,”central government took many years to make policies for Pak displaced Hindus and although last year the government made few policies but they are not being implemented.Few collectors were given power to give citizenship but due to many reasons they are not able to do so.”

