DHAKA: The India’s Narendra Modi government has given citizenship to around 4,300 Hindus and Sikh migrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan in one year.

During his election campaign, Modi had said Hindu migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh would be treated like Indian citizens.

There are around two lakh Hindu and Sikh migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan currently living in India.

Since Modi assumed office in May 2014, nearly 19,000 refugees living in Madhya Pradesh have been given longterm visas. While around 11,000 longterm visas were given in Rajasthan, 4,000 refugees in Gujarat got longterm visas.

In April, India home affairs ministry launched an online system for submitting applications for longterm visas.

The decision was taken to address the difficulties faced by the Sikhs and Hindus from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who come to India with an intention to settle there permanently.

There are about 400 Pakistani Hindu migrant settlements in Rajasthani cities such as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur.

Hindu migrants from Bangladesh mostly live in West Bengal and Northeast states. And Sikh migrants chiefly live in Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh.

During the five years of the United Progressive Alliance II government led by India National Congress, 1,023 migrants were granted Indian citizenship, reports newindianexpress.com

BDST: 1150 HRS, JUN 17, 2015
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