Pakistani Sindhis living in Madhya Pradesh yet to get citizenship

It has been a more than a decade since they left Pakistan to make Madhya Pradesh their home but thousands of migrant Sindhis here are yet to get citizenship.

Around 3,500 Sindhis, who migrated from Pakistan, are living on Long Term Visa (LTV) or Residential Permit (RP) in the state, a state home department official has confirmed.

Though LTV or RP allow a person to live in India but do not entitle him or her to obtain legal documents like ration car or apply for a government job.

As per the law, Sindhis living in Madhya Pradesh on the basis of LTV cannot even get a ration card, a community leader Shanker Lalvani said.

Sindhis are facing hardship in getting Indian citizenship though they have been here for 10 to 12 years, Lalwani said, adding that some applications seeking citizenships are pending with the department concerned since as long as 1975-76.

At present any person can apply for the Indian citizenship after living legally in India for seven years, the Sindhi Hindu community leader said.

"We are not asking for citizenship for those living in India illegally after leaving Pakistan. We want those people who have full faith the in Indian Constitution and paying all taxes as per the rules should get citizenship," he said.

The Centre should dispose off the pending applications for citizenship with it according to the book, Lalvani said.