Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in Delhi expressed feelings of hope and joy upon the formal implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Monday, expressing gratitude for the prospect of finally being recognized as Indian citizens.
The implementation of the contentious CAA 2019, announced by the Centre ahead of the Lok Sabha election, aims to grant citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
Dharamveer Solanki, regarded as the leader of the Pakistani Hindu refugee community in Delhi, conveyed his elation, stating that approximately 500 families from the community will now receive citizenship.
"After a decade-long wait, my family and I are overjoyed by the news. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to be recognized as Indian citizens. Returning to our homeland in 2013 was a decision we are now profoundly glad about," Solanki shared.
He further added, "It feels like a significant burden has been lifted off our shoulders. With the implementation of this act, approximately 500 Pakistani Hindu refugee families residing here will attain citizenship."
With the formal notification of the CAA rules, the Modi government is set to initiate the process of granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from the aforementioned countries, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians.
Although the CAA was passed in December 2019 and subsequently received presidential assent, protests erupted in various parts of the country against its enactment.
The law, however, could not be enforced earlier due to the absence of notified rules.
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