Sharada Kukreja, a 53-year-old woman originally from Pakistan who has been residing in Odisha’s Bolangir district for the past 35 years after marrying an Indian citizen, made an emotional appeal on Saturday to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, requesting not to be separated from her family after receiving a police notice to leave the country.
Sharada, originally from Sukkur city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, fled to India to escape forced conversion and marriage to a Muslim youth. She has been living in Bolangir district of Odisha for the past 35 years after marrying Mahesh Kumar Kukreja. Sharada is a mother of two — a son and a daughter — both of whom are now married.
When contacted, Bolangir Superintendent of Police Abilash G informed PTI that a notice has been issued to Sharada, asking her to leave the country "at the earliest." He clarified that the notice was served only to Sharada, not to her husband or children. Responding to Sharada Kukreja's claim of possessing an Aadhaar card and having participated in elections, the SP stated, "The notice was issued based on existing records. We will need to verify the claims she is now presenting."
Sharada shared that she, along with her four sisters and five brothers, fled Pakistan fearing forced conversion and settled in Bolangir 35 years ago. All her siblings are now married and living in various parts of India. "We first arrived in Odisha’s Koraput district and later moved to Bolangir after my marriage. I have been living here for 35 years. I was just 18 when I got married in 1990," she said, adding that her family migrated to India on a 60-day visa in 1987. While all her family members have become Indian citizens, Sharada still holds a Pakistani passport, making her technically a citizen of Pakistan.
Sharada claimed that although she possesses an Aadhaar card and has voted in multiple elections, she is still not officially recognized as an Indian citizen. She expressed hope that she would be granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act but said it continues to remain out of reach. Fearing the possibility of being forced to leave the country and separated from her family at this stage of life, Sharada made an emotional appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to allow her to stay with her husband and children.
"If at all, the Indian government sends me back to Pakistan, where should I go, whom should I meet there? I have no one in that country. I have never visited Pakistan after 1987. Even I have not called anyone over the phone in Pakistan. Whom should I call? I have no connection with that country which failed to give me and my family protection," she said.
With a choked voice, Sharada said she cannot imagine living even a moment without her family. Her son, daughter, and grandchildren are equally distressed and are firmly against her being separated from them.
India announced on Thursday that all visas granted to Pakistani nationals would be cancelled effective April 27, and directed them to leave the country, amid rising tensions following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists.
[With PTI inputs]
Sharada, originally from Sukkur city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, fled to India to escape forced conversion and marriage to a Muslim youth. She has been living in Bolangir district of Odisha for the past 35 years after marrying Mahesh Kumar Kukreja. Sharada is a mother of two — a son and a daughter — both of whom are now married.
When contacted, Bolangir Superintendent of Police Abilash G informed PTI that a notice has been issued to Sharada, asking her to leave the country "at the earliest." He clarified that the notice was served only to Sharada, not to her husband or children. Responding to Sharada Kukreja's claim of possessing an Aadhaar card and having participated in elections, the SP stated, "The notice was issued based on existing records. We will need to verify the claims she is now presenting."
Sharada shared that she, along with her four sisters and five brothers, fled Pakistan fearing forced conversion and settled in Bolangir 35 years ago. All her siblings are now married and living in various parts of India. "We first arrived in Odisha’s Koraput district and later moved to Bolangir after my marriage. I have been living here for 35 years. I was just 18 when I got married in 1990," she said, adding that her family migrated to India on a 60-day visa in 1987. While all her family members have become Indian citizens, Sharada still holds a Pakistani passport, making her technically a citizen of Pakistan.
Sharada claimed that although she possesses an Aadhaar card and has voted in multiple elections, she is still not officially recognized as an Indian citizen. She expressed hope that she would be granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act but said it continues to remain out of reach. Fearing the possibility of being forced to leave the country and separated from her family at this stage of life, Sharada made an emotional appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to allow her to stay with her husband and children.
"If at all, the Indian government sends me back to Pakistan, where should I go, whom should I meet there? I have no one in that country. I have never visited Pakistan after 1987. Even I have not called anyone over the phone in Pakistan. Whom should I call? I have no connection with that country which failed to give me and my family protection," she said.
With a choked voice, Sharada said she cannot imagine living even a moment without her family. Her son, daughter, and grandchildren are equally distressed and are firmly against her being separated from them.
India announced on Thursday that all visas granted to Pakistani nationals would be cancelled effective April 27, and directed them to leave the country, amid rising tensions following the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists.
[With PTI inputs]
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