In a superb act of humanism and in response to the constitutional obligations, the NDA Government has given citizenship to around 4,300 Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan in one year. The credit of this humanitarian decision essentially goes to the Home Minister who had made it a point to fulfill the promise made to the people in the election manifesto of BJP. It is for the first time that the Government of India has officially acknowledged that Hindus and Sikhs have been persecuted in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and that BJP’s declared policy is that India is a “natural home for persecuted Hindus” who will be welcome to seek refuge. We have been hearing sordid stories of persecution of Hindus in Pakistan especially in Sind on religious basis. For a handful of Hindus left in Pakistan after their ethnic cleansing, a number of restrictions are imposed on them if they ask for visa to India. Most of the Hindus who have come to India on genuine visa along with their families and kith and kin refused to go back as they fear persecution and torture by the state and non-state actors in Pakistan. India is the natural safe haven for these victimized people.
Now that they have been granted citizenship, and more will perhaps follow suit, we would like to make an appeal to the Corporate Houses of India to come forward and offer them support of livelihood. The able bodied men and women should be provided with work, the young boys and girls should be provided support under social security so that they continue their education. Those wanting to establish their small scale business units should be provided with reduced interest bank loans. Their children should be given special scholarship to help them complete their education. This is how they will get integrated into the society.
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