The Indian government is working on an ordinance to amend the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to “persecuted” Hindu refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Time of India reports.
While the ordinance will cover refugees from three nations, it is primarily aimed at Hindu migrants from Bangladesh who have crossed over into Assam and West Bengal in large numbers over the years.
Analysts say Bidhansabha (state assembly) elections are due in both eastern states next year and the ruling BJP hopes the move will brighten its electoral prospects.
The government is working on a policy paper on the modalities of granting natural citizenship to the refugees. The complicated and contentious part, according to sources involved in the process, is to work out who to include and on what basis to include them as citizens.
A task force set up by the Indian Home Ministry is also working on how to grant citizenship to the scores of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Chakma refugees.