World Sindhi Federation to rehabilitate Sindhi HIndu refuges from Pakistan with Indian Govt support

Mumbai : Sindhi Hindus in the neighboring country of Pakistan are terribly hit as there is always a fear that the womenfolk would be abducted and forcibly converted to other religion and to protect them the Government of India has taken a giant step forward to amend the Citizenship (Amendment) Act so as to provide citizenship to the immigrants who come to India, said Mahesh Jethmalani, sitting BJP MP and International President of Federation of World Sindhi Association.

Addressing members of the Federation at a function in Mumbai recently, Jethmalani said the government had taken this step as there were reports of forcible conversion of Sindhi Hindus in Pakistan triggering immigration of people from the neighboring country into India in the recent years.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in 2019 but there is a challenge to the law in the Supreme Court of India.

Many have crossed over to India from Pakistan as refuges and we have to find out where they are located in india so that the process of granting them Indian citizenship becomes easy, said Jethmalani, who is also a leading Supreme Court lawyer.

Jethmalani further assured that the Federation would help the affected Sindhi HIndu people to rehabilitate in India and funds are being collected in this regard by appealing to the Federation members to contribute.

Sindhi HIndu people from Pakistan come to India because they have no other home other than India to go and settle down, Jethmalani, who is supporting the CAA, said. He said Sindhi HIndu
people have registered for getting citizenship of India but first we have to find out where they are located in India.

“We are equally concerned about the religious conversion of Sindhi HIndu people in Ulhasnagar town of Maharashtra in India” and steps are being taken to stop this practice.”

Jethmalani also urged the members of the Sindhi Community to protect the Sindhi language and culture as it would help in giving them their identity. He praised Prasar Bharati for allowing Doordarshan to start a Sindhi Channel some years ago for one hour, twice a week.

The BJP MP, who is a prominent member of the Sindhi Community, assured the Sindhi population that the World Sindhi Federation would soon start scholarship schemes for students to educate the younger generation and also to provide medical help to the needy.

As a good citizen of India, you must ask what you can do for the country rather than what the country can do for the people, the Federation President said.

Sindhi population in India have to be more organized, he said and wondered what prevented them from closing down their shops or business establishments on Sindhi New Year Day “Cheti Chand.”

Today, it is a matter of pride that Sindhi people are successful in business and many other fields because of their hard work, sincere and positive attitude and determination. The identity of Sindhis is beginning to get recognized. The community has its own Jhulelal God temple in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.

“We have now to ensure that Sindhis should be recorgnized even outside the community for their National Spirit and patriotism fervour. Sindhi should realize that Bharat comes first and then Sindhi flavour.

Ram Jawhrani, International Chairman of the Federation, echoed the views of Jethmalani and said he hoped the Sindhi population would come together to protect their identity as well as Sindhi language and culture.