New Delhi, Aug 25: Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has sought citizenship for evacuated members of Sikh and Hindu community from war-torn Afghanistan after the collapse of Afghan government.
In a letter to the Home Ministry on Tuesday, Mr Sirsa said, “Their religions and lives were under a constant threat in the regime of Taliban. As there is no scope for them to return to their own country, they and their children have to face many challenges to resettle in India until citizenship is granted to them.”
“I requested to make necessary amendments and provisions on the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA Law) so that Afghan Sikh and Hindu who have taken refuge in India in the year of 2020 and 2021 may also get benefited,” he said.
He also requested the government to amend the CAA and extend the cut -off date from 2014 to 2021, so the people coming from Afghanistan get benefitted and lead safer lives here.
“Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, in association with the Government of India, is making all the necessary arrangements to rehabilitate these Afghan Sikh and Hindu in India,” he added.
Taking a dig at the Akali Dal demand, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, those who are opposing the enactment of the CAA are today demanding that it’s cut off list date be extended from 2014 to 2021.
India has taken “a humanitarian step” by supporting minorities of Afghanistan and it would be great to help them by granting Indian citizenship, he said.
The Minister informed that around 77 Sikh have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which came into force from January 10, 2020, witnessed widespread protests across the country with Delhi emerging as a hub of resistance against the legislation.
