India may soon grant citizenship to Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh

New Delhi: India may soon allow minority citizens from Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have come to the country illegally, to claim citizenship, a report said on Friday.

The Times of India reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs has prepared several draft amendments to be made to the citizenship law which will exempt minority citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have come to India due to fear of religious prosecution, from being categorised as "illegal migrants".

Once the amendments are made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, such refugees will be legally allowed to stay in India and also apply for citizenship.

At least two lakh Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh could benefit from the move.

Many Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken refuge in India after being treated as "second-class citizens" and facing violence. The respective countries' blasphemy laws are also unfavourable to them.

The Home Ministry's move is both political as well as humanitarian and is in tune with the Narendra Modi government's policy to come to the aid of Hindus facing religious prosecution in their countries.