Even as mass protests continue against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across the country, a woman from Pakistan married into a family of Balangir district is a happy person over the new law.
Sarada Sitwani, a Hindu woman having citizenship of Pakistan, migrated to India with her family when she was 18. The Sindhi family settled in Koraput district. Sarada, who is now in her early 50s, married one Mahesh Kukreja of Thikadarpada village in Balangir district and they now have two children. However, even after 29 years of her marriage, she is yet to get Indian citizenship. She is the only member of the family having a Pakistani passport.
Sarada claims that despite repeated appeals, she has failed to get Indian citizenship. She now hopes to gain citizenship of this country after legislation of the CAB.
Sarada said that since they are Hindus, her family had been tortured and exploited by people in Pakistan. When the situation became intolerable, the family left their house and property back in Pakistan and migrated to India.