Rajasthan MLA urges PM to rescind order on deporting Pakistani refugees

A file image of Ravindra Singh Bhati

Ravindra Singh Bhati, an Independent MLA from Sheo constituency of Rajasthan, on Monday (April 28, 2025) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to reconsider the decision of sending back the Pakistani refugees and family members who came to India, especially in the western part of his State.

Expressing deep anguish over the Pahalgam terror attack, Mr. Bhati said it was ‘very unfortunate’ and India’s response in putting Indus treaty on hold and other security measures had the wholehearted support of the entire country.

Under these circumstances, the new guidelines issued by the Government of India regarding refugees and newly married families had become a matter of deep humanitarian concern, said Mr. Bhati.

“The process of sending back refugees from the neighboring country, who have not yet received formal recognition, and those newly married couples who have recently come to India after marriage, is being started. This decision has created deep fear and despair in thousands of families, which is extremely worrying from a humanitarian point of view,” he wrote to the PM.

Mr. Bhati, in his letter, said that many families residing in the neighbouring country were connected to one another by the same gotra (lineage) and all these families had religious, social, and cultural ties with India. And at the time of Partition, many families got separated, some of whom settled in India and the rest remained in Pakistan.

“At present, families residing in Pakistan are being forced to come to our country due to religious persecution and insecurity. There are many examples in which half the family has settled in India while the other half had been living on visa for years and are waiting to get Indian citizenship,” he said.

Requesting the Prime Minister to reconsider these new guidelines keeping in view the above human, social and constitutional aspects, Mr Bhati added that some special rehabilitation facility should be provided to the refugees living peacefully in India for a long time and the members of Western Rajasthan who had come under family relations.

“This will ensure the safety of faith, respect, and life of those refugees and their families towards India. There is full hope that India will do justice to these helpless families in keeping with its historical generosity, human values, ​​and the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he added.