188 Refugees in Gujarat granted Indian Citizenship

Gandhinagar : A total of 188 refugees from across Gujarat were given Indian citizenship by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah  in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at the  ‘Citizenship Certificate Distribution’ program held at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Auditorium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

At the event, Union Minister  Amit Shah conveyed his profound satisfaction, stating that these people will now be recognized as Indian citizens and will live with pride. He mentioned that these 188 new citizens serve as an example for other refugees and their future generations will contribute to the nation as entrepreneurs and public representatives. The Union Home Minister congratulated the Gujarat government and the Census Department for awarding citizenship certificates to these families in his home state of Gujarat. 

A total of 188 refugees received Indian citizenship, including 90 from Ahmedabad, 36 from Morbi, 20 from Surendranagar, 18 from Patan, 10 from Mehsana, 6 from Rajkot, 3 from Kutch, 3 from Vadodara, and 2 from Anand

Referring to past injustices, Union Home Minister  Amit Shah stated that from 1947 to 2014, people persecuted from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan were not granted citizenship, leading to their continued suffering within the country. However, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, refugee people have received both justice and citizenship. Mentioning Division Horrors Remembrance Day, the Union Minister noted that following India’s partition based on religion, minority communities in neighbouring countries endured severe persecution. Many lost their families and the wealth they had accumulated over their lifetimes without receiving justice. He praised PM Shri Narendra Modi for finally addressing this long-standing issue.

The Union Minister further noted that the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was enacted in 2019 after being passed by Parliament, facilitated the issuance of citizenship certificates. He conveyed that 188 citizens are receiving their certificates under this law and urged other refugees to apply for citizenship promptly.  Amit Shah further mentioned that under Prime Minister  Narendra Modi’s leadership, the central government has prioritized the development of the poor, youth, farmers, and women. On the other hand, the government has also preserved heritage by transforming the grand Ram Mandir, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and Shakti Peeth Pavagadh.