Muralidhar, 70, one of the refugees, said he arrived in India over three decades ago and was waiting for this day.
More than 600 persons have been granted citizenship this year; 3000 more applications for citizenship are still pending in Indore
Indore, India: As many as 75 refugees from Pakistan, belonging to the Sindhi community and living here for several years, were granted Indian citizenship at a ceremony on August 18 as part of the commemoration of 75 years of India’s independence.
The citizenship certificates were given in the presence of BJP Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani, former MLA Jitu Jirati and Collector Manish Singh. Murlilal Madhvani, who arrived in India three decades ago, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his citizenship.
Muralidhar/Murlilal, 70, one of the refugees, said he arrived in India three decades ago and was waiting for this day. “We were harassed in Pakistan, so we came to India 32 years ago. It has been 32 years since we are living in this nation. Today, we are getting citizenship in India. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this,” he said.
Anjali Kalra, another refugee, said, “We came to India 17 years ago from Pakistan, including family. There were a lot of problems for Sindhis in Pakistan. I thank the Indian Government for accepting us.”
Anjali, 25-year-old, said “Women in Pakistan do not get the opportunities to progress and have education with respect and independence which we are getting in India. The people in India have accepted us very well.”
Watch Video: Citizenship Ceremony
BJP MP from Indore Shankar Lalwani, who himself belongs to the Sindhi community, addressing the program, alleged that Hindu temples are attacked in Pakistan and the community is facing persecution there.
“At least 1,000 Hindus are forcibly converted in Pakistan’s Sindh province every year. Scared, they are forced to seek shelter in India,” he said.
The Indian government is providing all help to the refugees from Pakistan and in Indore alone more than 600 persons have been granted citizenship this year, the MP said.
About 3,000 more applications for citizenship are pending in Indore, Lalwani said, and asked the administration to process them speedily.
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Courtesy: First Post, India TV News, ANI
