Pak Hindu woman relieved as state awaits clearance on pending LTV application | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: After DGP Y B Khurania on Monday said the state is waiting for Centre’s direction on Pakistani nationals, who have applied for long-term visas (LTV), Pakistani Hindu woman Sharda Bai, 55, who resides in Balangir, feels partially relieved.
Though she came to India in 1987 on a 60-day visitor visa, she applied for an LTV in 2017. She sent the visa application to the Bureau of Immigration on March 25, 2017. The application showed that her visa expired on Dec 9, 1987. “We are waiting for further direction on how to deal with individuals whose LTV applications are pending consideration,” the DGP told the media.
The district police officials said they have kept an eye on the Pakistani national, who has been residing at Thikadarpada in Balangir town for the past 37 years. On Saturday, the town police issued her a quit India notice. “I pray to God that my visa application is accepted and I am allowed to stay in Pakistan,” Sharda told the local media.
“You are directed to quit India at the earliest as deemed proper failing which legal action will be taken against you,” stated the police notice served to Sharda, citing the revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals.
Sharda, along with her parents and nine siblings (four sisters and five brothers), relocated to Koraput in 1987 and started living with a relative who was in the shoe business. Sharda said she received marriage proposals and tied the knot with Mukesh Kukreja in 1990. Two years later, his family shifted to Balangir and has been living there since then.
“I have no connection with anyone in Pakistan anymore. This is my home now,” said an emotional Sharda, who runs a small bangle business with her husband Mahesh Kukreja in Thikadarpada, Balangir.
“We have been running from pillar to post for getting her long-term visa and Indian citizenship. Neither has come our way,” Sharda’s son Golu said, adding after India enacted the the Citizen Amendment Act, the family was hopeful the hurdles will clear. Sharda’s daughter is married and settled in Rayagada, further complicating their situation.
“I am very optimistic that the govt will consider my case sympathetically,” she said. She interpreted the DGP’s statement that the authorities will wait for further direction from the Centre for cases like her who have applied for long term Visa as a huge positive development. This is because the quit India notice served to her on Saturday, made her feel her deportation was imminent.
Though she came to India in 1987 on a 60-day visitor visa, she applied for an LTV in 2017. She sent the visa application to the Bureau of Immigration on March 25, 2017. The application showed that her visa expired on Dec 9, 1987. “We are waiting for further direction on how to deal with individuals whose LTV applications are pending consideration,” the DGP told the media.
The district police officials said they have kept an eye on the Pakistani national, who has been residing at Thikadarpada in Balangir town for the past 37 years. On Saturday, the town police issued her a quit India notice. “I pray to God that my visa application is accepted and I am allowed to stay in Pakistan,” Sharda told the local media.
“You are directed to quit India at the earliest as deemed proper failing which legal action will be taken against you,” stated the police notice served to Sharda, citing the revocation of visas for Pakistani nationals.
Sharda, along with her parents and nine siblings (four sisters and five brothers), relocated to Koraput in 1987 and started living with a relative who was in the shoe business. Sharda said she received marriage proposals and tied the knot with Mukesh Kukreja in 1990. Two years later, his family shifted to Balangir and has been living there since then.
“I have no connection with anyone in Pakistan anymore. This is my home now,” said an emotional Sharda, who runs a small bangle business with her husband Mahesh Kukreja in Thikadarpada, Balangir.
“We have been running from pillar to post for getting her long-term visa and Indian citizenship. Neither has come our way,” Sharda’s son Golu said, adding after India enacted the the Citizen Amendment Act, the family was hopeful the hurdles will clear. Sharda’s daughter is married and settled in Rayagada, further complicating their situation.
“I am very optimistic that the govt will consider my case sympathetically,” she said. She interpreted the DGP’s statement that the authorities will wait for further direction from the Centre for cases like her who have applied for long term Visa as a huge positive development. This is because the quit India notice served to her on Saturday, made her feel her deportation was imminent.
