The Centre has passed to the Delhi Government the responsibility to decide the fate of 482 Pakistani Hindus residing in the Capital.
During a hearing in the Delhi High Court on a PIl seeking relief for the refugees who face deportation and subsequent persecution in Pakistan, the Central Government told the court that the decision lies with the Delhi Government. Hearing the Centre’s plea, the HC refused to intervene in the policy matters but ordered the Government to provide basic amenities to the refugees till a final decision about their fate is taken.
Appearing on behalf of the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra told the HC: “As per the procedure, the Delhi Government has to first send a letter to the Centre regarding the deportation matter only then the Centre would consider providing long term visas to the Pakistani Hindus.”
Nahar Singh, superintendent of Central Excise and Customs at Delhi airport who single-handedly accommodated 482 Pakistani Hindus in Bijwasan at his expenses, filed the petition and alleged that these migrants were being threatened by the Delhi Police.
“These Pak Hindu migrants are under a grave threat from Delhi Police to leave India immediately, and on the other hand they are under a grave threat of the Pakistani authorities if they entered Pakistan,” says the petition.
“We just want to safeguard these refugees from being forcefully deported to Pakistan. They don’t want to go back. We want them to be provided social security as their visas stand expired,” said Gaurav Bansal, advocate appearing for petitioner.
The PIl was filed against the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Commissioner of Delhi Police.
Earlier, Nahar Singh had approached the Foreign Regional Registration Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi High Court to get the refugees Indian nationality but to no avail.