185 Pakistani Refugees Granted Indian Citizenship

Rajkot

In a major step under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 185 Pakistani refugees were granted Indian citizenship at a special event held at Atmiya College in Rajkot on Friday. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi distributed the certificates, calling it an emotional and proud moment for the families who had long waited to be recognised as Indians.

Sanghvi said many of these families fled religious persecution and insecurity in Pakistan. Some told me their daughters couldn’t even attend school due to fear. The CAA has given them a new life, he said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this possible.

The CAA, passed in 2019, allows non-Muslim minorities—Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis—from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for Indian citizenship.

Among the beneficiaries, Laxmiben, who migrated from Pakistan in 2011, said, We waited years for this. Life in India is safer and more respectful. Another recipient, Labh Hurbai, who arrived in 2015, added, There’s a huge difference between India and Pakistan. I’m finally at peace here.

To apply under the CAA, individuals must meet criteria under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, including proof of religion, origin, entry date, and basic knowledge of an Indian language. While the law continues to face criticism from some quarters, for many refugees, it offers long-awaited security and a sense of belonging.