Fed up knocking the doors of the state government and district administration over the years, Hindu and Sikh families which migrated from Pakistan and still awaiting Indian citizenship rue that it remains a distant dream for them.
Addressing media persons here on Friday, a youth Shiv Kumar, who moved to India in 2005 along with his family, said, "We were born and brought up in Pakistan but the situation was such that we could stay there no more and decided to come to India.
"Discrimination, lack of freedom and education were some issues that forced us to leave Pakistan. But it has been eight years and our fate is still undecided. I appeal to the Indian government to grant us citizenship," he added.
Kumar stressed that their applications were not moving forward, adding to their agony.
Similarly, another Pakistan national Gurmeet Singh said, "I along with six members of my family came to India in 1996. We came here for a better life. Although we feel safe in India, absence of Indian citizenship is hurting.
"We have to return to Pakistan whenever our passport expires, or to extend visas; our identity cards are not made in India. We just want that the Indian government end our long wait."
{{/usCountry}}"We have to return to Pakistan whenever our passport expires, or to extend visas; our identity cards are not made in India. We just want that the Indian government end our long wait."
{{/usCountry}}Local resident Surinder Kumar Billa, who has been taking up their cases, said, "The government needs to be more serious on this issue. These people are stuck in the middle of nowhere and now even the district administration is not giving us the proper replies."
It is pertinent to mention here that many such families are living across Amritsar.