Ahmedabad: At a citizenship certificate distribution camp held by the Ahmedabad district collector‘s office on Wednesday, 56 people belonging to minority communities in Pakistan officially became Indian citizens. Minister of state for home , Harsh Sanghavi, handed over the certificates, warmly encouraging the recipients to “Smile! Because now you all are citizens of India.”
According to the gazette notifications dated Dec 23, 2016 and Oct 23, 2018, the central govt authorized the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in Gujarat to grant Indian citizenship to minority communities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan under Sections 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955. From 2017 to 2024, 1,223 applicants were granted Indian citizenship certificates by the Ahmedabad district collector’s office.
Sanghavi said, “Today, the faces of those receiving citizenship certificates reflect happiness and confidence. In countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, people of certain religions and communities are minorities. The situation for minority citizens in these countries has been difficult for years and their safety is at risk. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, changes were made to the citizenship rules to ensure that citizens who came from Pakistan to settle in India receive Indian citizenship certificates.”
Dr Isha Kumari, who received a citizenship certificate, said, “I am a proud Indian doctor now. I am delighted to receive this honour and will fulfil my responsibilities towards the country with sincerity.”
