Jaipur - Religious persecution and violation of human rights are forcing Hindus in Pakistan to flee to India, a Pakistani migrants association said on Wednesday.
Every month groups of persecuted Hindus are coming to India from Pakistan in the hope of a better future but due to lack of a refugee policy they face a tough time, the Pak Visthapit Sangh said.
There are 17,000 Hindus from Pakistan who have yet to get Indian citizenship, out of whom 5,000 live in Jodhpur alone. Many of those who arrived in India as refugees in 1965 have also not received citizenship, Convenor of the Sangh, Hindu Singh Sodha, said.
Others are scattered in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore and Pali districts, Sodha said after meeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. He demanded the Centre should amend the citizenship act and fix a time limit for granting citizenship.
Sodha also said the government should review the rehabilitation policy prepared in 1978 for those living in camps after leaving Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.
Sodha said they were not able to purchase land as several families, living in clusters in camps, possessed only one ration card. At the time of allotment, property was given to only heads named in the cards leaving many families landless.
Gehlot agreed to constitute a committee with migrant representation to look into the problems.