Pak Hindu refugees get temporary breather, many apply for long term visas

Jaisalmer: With India revoking visa services to all but diplomatic, official and long-term visa holders, Hindu Pakistani citizens on short-term visas in India made a beeline to apply for long-term visas before the deadline ended on Sunday.

Over Saturday and Sunday, over 800 Hindu Pakistani citizens in Jaisalmer prepared and submitted their long-term visa applications at the Foreigners Registration Office.

Dalip Singh Sodha of the Seemant Lok Sangathan said, "We received assurances of relief from the govt. There is a possibility of relief for Hindu refugees from Pakistan, and we have high hopes from this decision." Under this relief, displaced Hindu refugees from Pakistan who came to India on short-term visas were asked to apply for LTV (Long Term Visa). If they apply for LTV within the deadline, they may be allowed to stay in India permanently, Sodha said.

He said it is likely govt may issue specific orders for Hindu refugees from Pakistan, providing them relief for a certain period. "This could be a historic step, proving to be a lifeline for thousands of Hindu refugees displaced from Pakistan to India," Sodha added.

By Sunday, over 800 Pakistani Hindu refugees had applied for long-term visas. However, Sodha said if the LTV applications are not completed within the specified time frame, concerned persons may have to return to Pakistan.