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JODHPUR: Pakistani Hindu migrants settled in Rajasthan have withdrawn their decision to opt only for 'none of the above' (NOTA) button during December 1 assembly elections. The decision was taken after both BJP and Congress incorporated their issues in their respective manifestos.
"As an ultimatum to the political parties for constantly overlooking our issues, we had decided not to choose any party in the state election and press the NOTA button on December 1. But now both the parties have given us importance and have vowed to resolve our issues in their manifestos. Hence, we have now decided to vote", said Hindu Singh Sodha, president of the Seemant Lok Sangthan, an organisation working for the welfare of the Hindu migrants from Pakistan.
Sodha said all migrants would be allowed to cast their votes on their own free will. "They may cast their vote to any party of their choice. There is no referendum from the organisation to these people to favour of any party or candidate," he said.
There are about 1.25 lakh Pakistani Hindus who have acquired Indian citizenship and living in Rajasthan. Their numbers have the power to influence the results on seats across the state, including Barmer, Chohtan and Shive in Barmer district; Kolayat and Khajuwala in Biakner district, Soorsagar in Jodhpur district and some areas in Jaisalmer district. On these seven seats, they have a population concentration ranging from 8000 to 25000.
Of these seven seats, Chohtan has the largest concentration of Pak Hindus with 25,000 voters. Keeping this in equation in mind, BJP has repeated a Pak Hindu candidate Tarunrai Kaga from this constituency. He had lost to Padmaram Meghwal of Congress in last elections.
Besides these areas, they are also present in Jalore, Pali, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts but not in a significantly large number.
These migrants have been struggling hard to get their issues of rehabilitation and citizenship resolved since long but they had been faced with consistent negligence. "This is for the first time that the political parties have incorporated our issues in their poll manifestos and have expressed a seriousness to our problems and issues," said Prem Chand, a volunteer of the organization.
During the 2008 assembly elections, both the then national president of BJP Nitin Gadkari and then state president Vasundhara Raje respectively had visited their settlement in Jodhpur and the party had tried to recognize their problems and issues. Gadkari and two BJP legislators had announced a monetary help of Rs 35 lakh for them. "But the money never reached us," Prem Chand said.
The migrants also regularly met Ashok Gehlot, who assured them to address their problems by providing them boarding and lodging. But that too was temporary in nature. Gehlot had also visited them and distributed blankets.
Pak Hindu migrants withdraw 'NOTA' decision - The Times of India
"As an ultimatum to the political parties for constantly overlooking our issues, we had decided not to choose any party in the state election and press the NOTA button on December 1. But now both the parties have given us importance and have vowed to resolve our issues in their manifestos. Hence, we have now decided to vote", said Hindu Singh Sodha, president of the Seemant Lok Sangthan, an organisation working for the welfare of the Hindu migrants from Pakistan.
Sodha said all migrants would be allowed to cast their votes on their own free will. "They may cast their vote to any party of their choice. There is no referendum from the organisation to these people to favour of any party or candidate," he said.
There are about 1.25 lakh Pakistani Hindus who have acquired Indian citizenship and living in Rajasthan. Their numbers have the power to influence the results on seats across the state, including Barmer, Chohtan and Shive in Barmer district; Kolayat and Khajuwala in Biakner district, Soorsagar in Jodhpur district and some areas in Jaisalmer district. On these seven seats, they have a population concentration ranging from 8000 to 25000.
Of these seven seats, Chohtan has the largest concentration of Pak Hindus with 25,000 voters. Keeping this in equation in mind, BJP has repeated a Pak Hindu candidate Tarunrai Kaga from this constituency. He had lost to Padmaram Meghwal of Congress in last elections.
Besides these areas, they are also present in Jalore, Pali, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts but not in a significantly large number.
These migrants have been struggling hard to get their issues of rehabilitation and citizenship resolved since long but they had been faced with consistent negligence. "This is for the first time that the political parties have incorporated our issues in their poll manifestos and have expressed a seriousness to our problems and issues," said Prem Chand, a volunteer of the organization.
During the 2008 assembly elections, both the then national president of BJP Nitin Gadkari and then state president Vasundhara Raje respectively had visited their settlement in Jodhpur and the party had tried to recognize their problems and issues. Gadkari and two BJP legislators had announced a monetary help of Rs 35 lakh for them. "But the money never reached us," Prem Chand said.
The migrants also regularly met Ashok Gehlot, who assured them to address their problems by providing them boarding and lodging. But that too was temporary in nature. Gehlot had also visited them and distributed blankets.
Pak Hindu migrants withdraw 'NOTA' decision - The Times of India
