Historic Moment for Pakistani Hindu Refugees in Delhi
NEW DELHI: At a polling booth in north Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla, Reshma pressed the button on an electronic voting machine, beaming with pride as she cast her vote for the first time. This moment was not just about choosing a candidate; it was a significant step towards securing her family’s future.
Reshma is among 186 Pakistani Hindu refugees who voted in the Delhi Assembly polls, marking a powerful transition from statelessness to citizenship. Recently granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, they finally stepped into the realm of civic rights.
A Sense of Belonging
Dharamveer Solanki, president of the Pakistani Hindu refugee community, expressed optimism for a brighter future. “Now, we won’t have to constantly change our location. We will finally get permanent homes and a stable means of livelihood,” he noted.
Chandrama, who has lived in the area for 17 years, shared, “Today, for the first time, I truly feel like I am part of Hindustan. Now I have hope that my children will get a better life.” The excitement was palpable as community members lined up outside the polling booth, eager to participate in the democratic process.
New Opportunities Ahead
Yashoda, 27, the first in her group to receive Indian citizenship, stood in line, filled with anticipation. “We have spent years working as daily wage laborers, struggling to survive. Now that we have Indian citizenship, we hope for proper jobs, homes, and a dignified life,” she said.
The Central government’s announcement on March 11, 2024, regarding the implementation of the CAA, 2019, has paved the way for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, to obtain Indian citizenship.
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