‘If we convert to Islam, will you give us houses?’: Pakistani Hindu refugees ask Centre

New Delhi: “If the Hindu refugees from Pakistan, who have been languishing across several cities in India, convert to Islam, will Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri provide them with houses?” asks Jay Aahuja, co-founder of non-profit ‘Nimittekam’ that has been devoted to rehabilitating Hindu and Sikh families from Pakistan in India. “I am unable to believe this. So Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh live like dogs in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Delhi, and this government is providing houses to Rohingya Muslims. IF we convert these Hindus to Islam, will you (Hardeep Singh Puri) provide them shelter too?” Aahuja told Firstpost. Earlier, Firstpost exclusively reported that RSS-affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had denounced the Centre’s decision to shift Rohingya Muslims to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) houses in Delhi and provide them with all amenities and police security. Bhagchand Bheel, a Pakistani Hindu who migrated to India in 2014 from Karachi and now lives in Jodhpur awaiting Indian citizenship, told Firstpost how some 35,000 refugees such as him have been living in deplorable conditions. “I was shocked out of my senses when I came to know about this (Centre’s decision for Rohingya Muslims),” Bheel said. Don’t Miss: ‘Unfortunate’: VHP lambasts Centre’s decision to shift Rohingyas to EWS flats “I can’t believe this. This is just like feeding a snake with milk, while kicking about those who look up to India as their home and who celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. If we read the kalma, will Centre give us Indian citizenship and houses to live in?” Bheel had migrated with his immediate family. Later his siblings too came to India. “Now, people from Pakistan taunt us: ‘you went there to find a home, but you live in tents and camps’. We have no answer and on top of that the Indian government does this to us,” Bheel rued. Another Hindu migrant from Pakistan, Banna Ram, told Firstpost about how it has been difficult to just survive. “I don’t even get enough to eat and these Rohingya Muslims are getting houses and security and all facilities. Why? I feel cheated,” Ram said. “Most of the thousands of Pakistani Hindu migrants in Jaisalmer are fighting to barely survive,” Ram said, adding that the only form of employment available is with mines and agricultural farms as labourers. “I broke my back since I was made to lift a stone heavier than I could. Since then I have been in bed. I just pass by one day at a time. Don’t I deserve something from the Indian government?” Ram lamented. Meanwhile, ‘Nimittekam’ struggles to get these refugees jobs when possible and run from pillar to post to get them Indian citizenship or, in worst case, stop them from being deported. The non-profit has so far succeeded in getting India citizenship for 3,000 Pakistani Hindu and Sikh refugees, having facilitated the India migration of some 10,000 such refugees. Read all the Latest News , Trending News ,  Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.