What did Pakistani Hindu refugees say on CAA notification?
The implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the country has not only given new hope to the Pakistani Hindu refugees living in delhi but has also heaved a sigh of relief. He said that he is very happy that he will ‘finally be called an indian citizen’. Before the lok sabha elections, the Center has announced the implementation of CAA-2019 to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from pakistan, bangladesh and afghanistan who came to india before december 31, 2014.
Dharamveer Solanki, considered the head of Pakistani Hindu refugee families in delhi, said that about 500 people of the community will now get citizenship. Solanki said, “I and my family have been waiting for this for more than a decade. We are very happy that finally we will be called indian citizens. I am happy that I decided to return to my country in 2013.”
'A huge burden has been lifted from our shoulders'
Dharamveer Solanki said, “It feels as if a huge burden has been lifted from our shoulders. With the implementation of this Act, around 500 Pakistani Hindu refugee families living here will get citizenship.'' With the caa rules being notified, the Modi government will now start providing indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from the said countries. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians. Another Pakistani Hindu refugee, Sona Das, said that he has been waiting to get indian citizenship since 2011 and the implementation of caa will give him a 'new life' in India.
Sona Das said, “With this news it seems as if we are getting a new life in India. I came here from pakistan in 2011 and have been waiting for citizenship since then. Very happy that now I will finally be called an indian citizen.'' The caa was passed in december 2019 and later got the assent of the President, but there were protests against it in many parts of the country. Kanhaiya, who came to india from pakistan in 2012, expressed his gratitude towards the Centre. “Getting citizenship is like a dream come true,” he said.