In a significant development for Afghan Sikhs in India, the Central Government has granted Indian citizenship to 20 individuals under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). This comes as a relief to many who have faced prolonged uncertainty.
Afghan #Sikhs receiving Indian citizenship certificate. pic.twitter.com/m0VJjjTRDa
— Navdeep Singh (@Navdeep_UK) August 8, 2024
The plight of Afghan Sikhs dates back to 1992, when around 400 individuals fled the escalating turmoil in Afghanistan and sought refuge in India. Many of these refugees found sanctuary in cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana, while others dispersed across different regions of the country. They initially relied on long-term visas to stay in India, which had to be regularly extended.
In 2009, the then UPA government relaxed visa norms for Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan, allowing them to apply for Indian citizenship under the 1955 Citizenship Act. However, the processing of these applications has languished over the years, with many still awaiting resolution.
A breakthrough came last month when Afghan Sikhs petitioned the Ministry of Home Affairs to transition their applications from the 1955 Act to the CAA, which offers a streamlined path to citizenship. Following this appeal, the Central Government has now reviewed and approved the citizenship applications of 20 Afghan Sikhs.
𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗸𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
— Harmeet Singh Kalka (@hskalka) August 14, 2024
Many thanks to our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah Ji, as 20 Afghan Sikhs have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Of… pic.twitter.com/GNBdrAFPmF
This move is particularly significant for those who have endured years of bureaucratic delays. Many Afghan Sikhs who arrived in 1992 have lost crucial documents over time, including passports. Previously, state government intervention was required to process applications, but this requirement has been eliminated under the CAA, expediting the citizenship process.
For these Afghan Sikhs, the grant of Indian citizenship marks the end of a protracted struggle that often involved annual renewals of long-term visas and frequent trips to government offices in Chandigarh or Delhi. The bureaucratic hurdles proved especially burdensome for the elderly, some of whom have passed away while awaiting citizenship.
𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗸𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
— Harmeet Singh Kalka (@hskalka) August 14, 2024
Many thanks to our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah Ji, as 20 Afghan Sikhs have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Of… pic.twitter.com/ffH9YBnfvK
Now, with Indian citizenship certificates in hand, these individuals can finally apply for passports and Indian identity cards, offering a new chapter of stability and opportunity after over three decades of uncertainty.
