From Statelessness to Citizen Voters: The Journey of Hindu Refugees from Pakistan

The Delhi Assembly elections of 2025 were marked by a significant moment, with a voter turnout of 60.44%, which included the votes of Hindu refugees from Pakistan. This was the first time they were able to exercise their right to vote, despite having lived in the city for decades.

Pakistani Hindu refugees cast vote. PTI

Thanks to the Citizenship Amendment Act, 186 Pakistani Hindu refugees were able to cast their votes for the first time. The law granted them Indian citizenship, which automatically entitled them to vote.

In Majnu Ka Tila, Delhi, over 150 Pakistani Hindu refugees had their fingers inked after receiving their citizenship under the CAA last year.

Responses from Hindu refugees

Casting their votes and selecting the right candidate for a brighter future gave these individuals a sense of fulfillment, as they had long been denied the right to vote, despite having spent a significant portion of their lives in India.

Dharamveer Solanki, president of the Pakistani Hindu refugee community, shared with the Times of India, “I have lived here for 17 years but today, for the first time, I truly feel like I am part of Hindustan. Now I have hope that my children will get a better life.”

He added, “Now, we won’t have to constantly change our location. We will finally get permanent homes and a stable means of livelihood.”

When did Pakistani Hindu refugees get their citizenship?

On March 11, 2024, the Central Government announced the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, which allows undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, to seek Indian citizenship. Approximately 300 immigrants were granted citizenship under this law.

During the partition, many Pakistani immigrants crossed the border into India, fleeing religious persecution. They primarily settled in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, with a significant community also establishing themselves in the national capital.

In Delhi, Hindu migrants are predominantly settled in Majnu Ka Tila, with other settlements in Adarsh Nagar, Rohini, and Shahbad Dairy.

(This Article was originally published by First Post)