Government to amend Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to Hindu migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh

NEW DELHI: The government is planning to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant citizenship to Hindus from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh seeking asylum in India. The Centre proposes to change the definition of “illegal migrants” in the law and relax it for Hindus who came to India without valid documents on the grounds of “religious persecution”.

The government also plans to bring a notification setting the cut-off date as December 31, 2014 for immigration and grant of citizenship to minority Hindus, officials said.

Earlier, India granted Hindus from Pakistan and Afghanistan long-term visa for five years and they were required to complete a stay of seven years to be eligible for citizenship. The government also plans to announce long-term visa facility for minorities from Bangladesh ahead of the Assam elections next year, officials said.

It is also proposed that an issue executive order under Foreigners Act, 1946 can be issued ensuring “continued presence” of Hindus in India, added officials.

Hindu Singh Sodha, president of Universal Just Action Society told ET that the body submitted a road map to the Modi government. “How can the government decide on a cut-off date? The situation in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan is not in anyone control,” he said.

The move to grant citizenship rights to minority Hindus is in consonance with BJP’s declared aim of positioning India as a refuge for Hindus fleeing persecution anywhere in the world, much like Israel’s stance towards Jews.