In Ahmedabad, 195 Hindu refugees from Pakistan and neighboring countries received Indian citizenship certificates in a single ceremony. Out of these, 122 were granted under the Citizenship Amendment Act, while 73 were registered at the collector’s office. Deputy Chief Minister Harshad Sanghvi and Minister Darshanaben Vaghela presided over the event, marking a moment of relief and dignity for families who fled persecution and lived without legal identity for decades.
Dr Mahesh Kumar Purohit, a gynecologist who migrated from Pakistan in 1956, said that finally receiving citizenship means he can get a passport and meet his daughter abroad. For nearly 70 years, he lived in India but without the rights of citizenship. Pooja Abhimanyu, an engineer, called the certificate not just a document but a new beginning for families who endured legal limbo, lack of access to formal employment, property rights, and basic recognition. The Ahmedabad district administration has been consistently issuing citizenship certificates since 2017, supported by social leaders and organizations who helped these families navigate the system.
CAA became law to protect persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, and today it is fulfilling that purpose. When refugees who survived decades of insecurity finally hold a citizenship certificate in their hands, it is not just policy working
