The struggle of Pakistani Hindu families in Rajasthan, who migrated almost a decade ago seeking a better life, persists as they await citizenship and proper resettlement. Despite assurances from the ruling Congress in the upcoming November 25 elections, these issues remain unresolved. Many families have established a temporary camp in Bhil Basti along the Gangana Road, about 10 km from Jodhpur city, representing a significant population of Pakistani Hindu immigrants in the region.
Lacking Indian citizenship and voting rights, these families have high expectations from political parties. Gomu Ram, a member of one such family, expressed the challenges they face, saying, “I came to India from Pakistan about a decade ago. Although there were no problems in Pakistan, we have come here in search of a better life. However, we still lack Indian citizenship and a home of our own.”
Despite promises made by both the BJP and Congress before the 2018 state assembly elections to address citizenship and resettlement challenges, little has changed for these families. Tirtha Ram, another member, emphasised, “We are not demanding citizenship immediately but need a roof over our heads. We are living in temporary settlements, and our conditions have worsened in the last decade.”
Bhera Ram, a farm labourer, echoed the sentiments, stating, “We are not asking for free land; we are ready to pay for it in installments if the government gives us a permanent house.” He added, “We came five years ago. Our Pakistani passports have expired, and our visas will expire soon. It is expensive to renew passports and visas. We don’t even want to go back, and we will be grateful if the Rajasthan government helps and makes arrangements for our rehabilitation.”
In 2018, the Congress had promised to establish a dedicated body for the development of overseas Pakistani Hindus, addressing their citizenship and resettlement issues.
However, little progress has been made, and 75% of citizenship applications in Rajasthan have been pending since 2019, according to Hindu Singh Sodha, president of Seemant Lok Sangathan.
Sodha highlighted the BJP’s initiative to start special housing for Pakistani Hindu immigrants, known as ‘Vinoba Bhave Nagar,’ in 2018. However, the progress has been limited. In Jodhpur alone, around 18,000 people are waiting for Indian citizenship, settling in various areas of the district.
Approximately 30,000 such individuals are dispersed across Rajasthan, facing challenges in areas like Chohtan, Barmer, Sheo, Jaisalmer, Kolayat, Khajuwala, and Sriganganagar. Sodha pointed to an example in Jaisalmer where Hindu migrants established a settlement on 40-bigha land provided by the district administration at the beginning of the year, accommodating 250 families, including those without Indian citizenship.
Despite efforts, incidents like the forced eviction of families from government land in Jaisalmer and the demolition of 70 structures set up by migrants in Jodhpur in April received little sympathy from the state government. The unresolved plight of these Pakistani Hindu families remains a pressing issue as they continue to struggle for basic necessities while waiting for promised citizenship and resettlement.