Over 400 Pakistani Hindu families are seeking Indian citizenship

AHMEDABAD: More than 400 Hindu families from Pakistan who are living in Gujarat today attended a camp held by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the district collector's office here.

The two-day camp has been organised on demand from those seeking the citizenship.

"Around 400 to 450 families participated. The criterion for accepting the citizenship form is that the person must have been living in India for more than seven years. 28 persons who belong to the minority community in Pakistan today filed applications," said resident deputy commissioner M S Gohil.

Two Muslim families from Pakistan also attended the camp seeking citizenship of India.

"A large number of people queued up today either to get information about the status of their citizenship applications or to make new applications," he said, adding that no applications for long-term visas were received.

Rajkumar Jesrani, who arrived here from Karachi six years ago, said the Indian government was apathetic to the demand of citizenship.

"I am a doctor, I want to work even in rural areas. But the Indian government did not grant me citizenship even after six years, so I can't earn and even serve in India," Jesrani said.