On June 17th, 2018 Jodhpur District collector Ravi Kumar Surpur granted Indian Citizenship to 108 migrants from Pakistan.
The surroundings of the town hall where the certificates were granted echoed with patriotic slogans such as Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Hindu Singh Soda, President of Seemant Lok Sangathan who has played a pivotal role in highlighting the plight of the migrants, said that the directions to give them citizenship was issued way back in December 2006.
Further, he said that some 6,000 people were still awaiting Indian citizenship.
As per Article 6 of the Constitution of India, a person who has migrated to India from Pakistan shall be deemed to be a citizen of India if:
- He or either of his parents or any of his grand-parents was born in India; and
- In case the person has migrated before July 19th, 1948, he has been ordinarily residing in India since the date of his migration, and in case the person has migrated on or after July, 19th 1948, he has been granted citizenship on an application made by him. Provided, that the person resided in India for at least six months immediately preceding such application.
