No refugee status to Pakistani Hindus:
Government
NEW
DELHI: 16 March, Government today ruled out granting refugee status
to Pakistani Hindu immigrants who have crossed over to India to escape
persecution there. "At the moment, we cannot grant them refugee status,"
Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said replying to a
discussion on a private members' resolution in the Lok Sabha. He, however, said
no Pakistani national, whose application for long-term visa was under
consideration of government, would be deported to Pakistan. The Minister also listed
a number of steps taken by the government since 1955 to address matters related
to persons displaced from Pakistan. The resolution on 'Formulation of an Action
Plan to Rehabilitate Persons Displaced from Pakistan', moved by Arjun Ram
Meghwal (BJP), was negatived after being put to voice vote. As per convention, a member withdraws the
resolution after the reply by the Minister. Meghwal insisted that his
conscience did not permit him to follow the convention as he was not satisfied
with the Minister's reply.
Meghwal
said the government had not given any assurance on issues raised by him
including conducting a survey of Pakistani nationals residing in Rajasthan,
Gujarat and Indore and alleged ill-treatment of minorities in Pakistan,
including Hindu, Christian, Ahmadiyya Muslim and Parsi communities. He also
wanted the government to take care of Pakistani Hindus, numbering more than
17,000, who have taken refuge at private-run transit camps in Jodhpur.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment