NRI body seeks Indian citizenship to Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh
A group of some Indian-American organizations in the US has launched a campaign seeking Indian citizenship to Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh who have been left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The group under the banner of organizations like Singha Bahini America, Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) and NavaBanga are seeking support for the Citizenship Bill, 2016. Here's more.
What is Citizenship Bill, 2016?
The Citizenship Bill, 2016 seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities from India's neighboring nations who have come to the country for safety.
Group members met Indian leaders at World Hindu Congress
The members of the group had met Indian leaders during the recently concluded World Hindu Congress in Chicago. "In the light of the well-intended NRC to help identify the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who came as fortune seekers, it has come to light that a large number of Hindu population find themselves left out," said a media release issued by the group.
NRC in every state is needed, says group
"Forefathers of Hindu brothers and sisters had come to India because of the persecution they faced in Bangladesh, yet they hadn't given up their faith," the group said. To ensure that the resources of India go to the citizens, NRC in every state is needed, but at the same time it is equally important that India protects poor Hindus from Bangladesh, it added.
Citizenship Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minority
Around 1.4mn to 2.5mn Hindus find themselves in a position to be stripped of their Indian citizenship. "The Citizenship Bill, 2016 which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minority Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains who came from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan till 2014 is thus a must to showcase a historic Hindu Unity to send a message to our own people," the group said.
