Sarada Bai, a resident of Pakistan married to a Hindu man in Odisha for the past 35 years, now risks being evicted from India. The police have told her that she would have to leave India immediately since her visa had been revoked by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This follows the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, which prompted India to inflict hard sanctions against Pakistan.
Legal Action for Cancellation of Visa
Sarada, a resident of Odisha for many years, has been given an order to vacate the country by the police, who threatened legal action against her if she does not comply. The decision is part of the wider step taken by the Indian government following the attack, the others being cancellation of all the visas granted to Pakistani nationals and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
A Life in India for More Than Three Decades
Married to Mahesh Kukreja, a Hindu male from Odisha’s Bolangir, Sarada has established a life in India. The two have two children, both of whom are Indian citizens. Even though she has been living in the country long-term, Sarada has yet to be issued Indian citizenship, although she has a voter ID card.
Making an emotional plea, Sarada asked the government to let her stay in the country. “Earlier, I used to stay in Koraput and now in Bolangir. I do not have anybody in Pakistan. Even my passport is so old. I pray to all of you along with the government to please keep me here. I have two married children and grandkids. I wish to remain here as an Indian,” she said.
The Effects of the Pahalgam Attack on Ind-Pak Relations
In the wake of the attack at Pahalgam, the Indian government made a series of tough decisions against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visas, and the closure of the Attari-Wagah border. Sarada’s case has highlighted the plight of those like her, suspended between bureaucratic choice and personal timelines that cross borders.
