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Pakistani Hindus stay put in Haryana

A large number of Pakistani Hindus, who had come to Sirsa, Haryana, on temporary visas, are refusing to return because they face harassment by Islamic fundamentalists.

In a recent interview, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Uma Bharati told a private television channel: "If one crore [10 million] Bangladeshis and a large number of people belonging to other nationalities can live unauthorisedly in India, why should these unfortunate people be forced to go back?"

According to highly placed sources, the district administration has time and again sought, through the Haryana government, extension of the visas of these people.

The arrival of more than 550 people belonging to the Bheel and Bawaria tribes from Bahawalpur in three groups last month added to the 477 Pakistani Hindus already living in this district for the last two to six years. Most of them are women and children, with only 21 men among them.

All attempts by the administration to send them back have failed.

Bhuria, a member of the new group and the only educated person among them, said he prefers to face the hardships of life in India because his people and children can at least be free and live in peace.

"We prefer to die in India than face humiliation at the hands of the fundamentalists," he said.

While the administration is helpless, the "visitors" are being helped by the local people who assist them in getting rations, temporary jobs and medical facilities.

The locals are of the view that these people should be allowed to stay on in India after their antecedents are thoroughly checked. Most of the refugees are camping in Haripura, Neemla, Mamek Kalan and Ellananbad.

UNI

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