Hindu Refugees Find New Hope In India’s Controversial Citizenship Law
NEW DELHI — Under the scorching sun in India’s capital, Delhi, makeshift shops selling cold drinks and wafers at Majnu ka Tila serve as landmarks guiding the way to the Pakistani Hindu refugee colony.
Most of the shops belong to Pakistani Hindu refugees. Children continue to play with one another. However, one conspicuous aspect of the colony is the presence of saffron flags adorning every house — symbolizing their religious identity as Hindus.
Pakistani Hindu refugees have once again garnered attention following the notification of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in March. The law aims to grant Indian citizenship to immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist or Christian faiths and had entered India before 2014 due to religious persecution.
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However, the critics of the CAA have asserted that this act will discriminate against Indian Muslims as it excludes those of the Islamic faith who are from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It means Muslims from these three countries who came to India before 2014 do not qualify to get citizenship.
Pakistani Hindu refugees of Majnu Ka Tila consider it a significant step and perceive that it will enhance their rights in the country. This week, hope became reality when the first set of citizenship certificates were issued to 14 people.
Sukhanand Pradhan, 50, the head of 200 Pakistani Hindu families at Majnu Ka Tila, said this decision means a lot to him and the community.
Recalling the past, he said that those families migrated from Pakistan’s Sindh region to India on a visa to attend the holy event of Kumbh Mela in 2011. After this, the families never returned to Pakistan.
At one point, he briefly paused in the middle of the conversation and looked toward his family portrait.
"We still have a house, friends and relatives in Pakistan. I frequently call them to find out about their lives,” Pathan added. “Conditions for Hindus in Pakistan are pathetic. I watch news of Hindu persecution and inflation in that country; however, in India, everything is good.”
On the discrimination against Muslims in India, he ducked the question and immediately switched the topic.
Photo courtesy of UNHCR
Plight of Rohingya and Sikh refugees
Rohingya refugees, numbering in the millions, have settled in various regions across India, particularly in Assam and West Bengal, often living in impoverished conditions.
In the capital, a group of Rohingya families has established a community in the Kalindi Kunj area, enduring significant challenges, including limited access to essential resources like water, food, education and healthcare.
Despite occasional assistance from nongovernmental organizations, recent visits have declined, leaving the community increasingly vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Sikhs who were evacuated by the Indian government from Afghanistan in 2021 following the Taliban’s takeover are now cautiously optimistic about the implementation of the CAA.
While their situation isn’t as dire as that of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Rohingyas, their lack of citizenship renders them ineligible for essential rights.
Many of these refugees have settled in the Tilak Nagar area, where local gurudwaras have assisted, including with shelter, rent payments and employment opportunities.
Refugees told Religion Unplugged about the dilemma they face: In Afghanistan, they were considered Indians, but in their current situation, they are labelled as Afghans. This uncertainty, they added, about their identity and future underscores the urgent need for citizenship rights.
As of January 2022, over 46,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with UNHCR India, predominantly originating from Myanmar and Afghanistan. These refugees and asylum-seekers largely reside in urban settings, integrated with host communities. Among them, 46% are women and/or young girls, while 36% are children.
Amnesty International said recently that all people should be able to attain citizenship in India, especially refugees.
“These groups too have suffered due to their religious identities and seek refuge in India, the largest country in the neighborhood,” the group said. “While the amendment purportedly aims to provide refuge to those facing repression, it fails to recognize and extend these protections to the Rohingyas who are often referred to as the world’s most persecuted minorities and have a U.N. Refugee status and the Sri Lankan Tamils which form the largest refugee group in India.”
Amit Pandey, an independent journalist based in India, covers a wide range of topics, including religion, politics and cybercrime.