Pak Hindu woman faces deportation after living 37 years in India | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: A Pakistani Hindu woman, who has been living in India for nearly four decades, faces deportation following the Centre’s recent directive on repatriation of Pakistani nationals. Sharda Bai, 55, a resident of Balangir in Odisha, received a ‘quit India’ notice on Saturday, something she never fathomed for the last 37 years despite failing to get an Indian citizenship. “What will I get by returning to Pakistan now? My entire life is here. I have become a grandmother here,” she told TOI, her voice choking with emotion.
Sharda has nine siblings who all live in India having obtained Indian citizenship after fleeing Pakistan in 1987 to build a better life. In 1987, Sharda, along with her parents Mannha Mal and Indra Bai, and her siblings, entered India from Pakistan’s Sindh province on a 60-day visitor visa. The family, originally residents of Rohri in Sukkur district, overstayed with her visa and passport expiring.
While her four sisters and five brothers successfully obtained Indian citizenship and settled in various cities, including Raipur, Lucknow, and Madhya Pradesh, Sharda’s attempts to secure long-term visas or citizenship remained unsuccessful.
Currently married to Mahesh Kukreja, a jeweller in Balangir, Sharda has two children — a son named Golu and a married daughter settled in Rayagada. “I have no connection with anyone in Pakistan anymore. This is my home now,” said Sharda, who has even voted in Indian elections, proudly showing her voter ID card.
The police notice issued by the office of SP in Balangir, citing visa revocation for Pakistani nationals, states: “You are directed to quit India at the earliest as deemed proper failing which legal action will be taken against you.”
A senior district police officer said they were helpless. “Her visa expired long ago. Without Indian citizenship or LTV (long term visa), it’s a case for deportation. We will wait for the government’s direction in this case,” he said.
The family had hoped the Citizenship Amendment Act would resolve their situation. “We have been running from pillar to post to get her long-term visa and Indian citizenship. Neither has come our way,” said Golu, Sharda’s son, even as his five-year-old son looks on. The family had last applied for a long-term visa in 2017.
Sharda has nine siblings who all live in India having obtained Indian citizenship after fleeing Pakistan in 1987 to build a better life. In 1987, Sharda, along with her parents Mannha Mal and Indra Bai, and her siblings, entered India from Pakistan’s Sindh province on a 60-day visitor visa. The family, originally residents of Rohri in Sukkur district, overstayed with her visa and passport expiring.
While her four sisters and five brothers successfully obtained Indian citizenship and settled in various cities, including Raipur, Lucknow, and Madhya Pradesh, Sharda’s attempts to secure long-term visas or citizenship remained unsuccessful.
Currently married to Mahesh Kukreja, a jeweller in Balangir, Sharda has two children — a son named Golu and a married daughter settled in Rayagada. “I have no connection with anyone in Pakistan anymore. This is my home now,” said Sharda, who has even voted in Indian elections, proudly showing her voter ID card.
The police notice issued by the office of SP in Balangir, citing visa revocation for Pakistani nationals, states: “You are directed to quit India at the earliest as deemed proper failing which legal action will be taken against you.”
A senior district police officer said they were helpless. “Her visa expired long ago. Without Indian citizenship or LTV (long term visa), it’s a case for deportation. We will wait for the government’s direction in this case,” he said.
The family had hoped the Citizenship Amendment Act would resolve their situation. “We have been running from pillar to post to get her long-term visa and Indian citizenship. Neither has come our way,” said Golu, Sharda’s son, even as his five-year-old son looks on. The family had last applied for a long-term visa in 2017.
