India committed to giving them long-term visa, citizenship

Indian government said Tuesday it was committed to providing long-term visa or citizenship to minorities of neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh who face persecution in their homeland, according to report by Business Standard of India.

Minister of State for Home of India Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha that several members of minority communities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan come to India with the intention of getting long-term visa or citizenship.

"Most people who come from Bangladesh do not possess any document, while people coming from Pakistan and Afghanistan come with invalid papers. We are committed to provide them long-term visa or citizenship. We have already launched a very easy process to get long-term visa or citizenship," he said.

He was replying to questions during the question hour which went on uninterrupted as almost the entire opposition is either boycotting the House or walked out in protest against the suspension of 25 Congress members by the Speaker Monday.

Rijiju said though the government was concerned about the status of religious minorities of neighbouring countries, it was difficult for him to make a policy statement in the House.

When BJP's Bijoya Chakraborty and S S Ahluwalia raised the issue of granting citizenship to Bengali Hindus coming from Bangladesh, the Minister said the government would look into the matter.

Rijiju said grant of Indian citizenship was governed by the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules framed under it. The Act provides for the acquisition of Indian citizenship by birth, by descent, by registration, by naturalisation and by incorporation of the territory.

As per the extant Long Term Visa Policy Guidelines, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals in various categories are granted Long Term Visas (LTV).