Maharashtra has witnessed a six-fold increase in applications for
Indiacitizenship from Pakistani nationals ever since relaxation and simplification of
immigratio
rules in December 2017. The gainers include cross-border brides in Mumbai who have waited for citizenship for close to a decade.
Mahim's Zahida Ansari (36), originally from
Karachi
, got her citizenship after 10 years of her marriage to cousin Mohammed Azam. "The biggest advantage that comes with citizenship is the liberty to travel anywhere in India," said Asma Gazdhar, also born in Karachi. "Foreigners are not allowed to travel outside the city for which they secured a visa. I have not gone outside Mumbai in seven years." For this reason, none of these brides had a honeymoon. Even after having kids, family outings to even a neighbouring hill station such as Lonavla were a pipe dream.
Against an average of 10 applications every six months earlier, today nearly 50 to 60 migrants from
Pakistan
apply for Indian citizenship in Maharashtra during the period. "Applications are also cleared in a time-bound period now since the powers have been delegated to collectors in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nagpur," a senior home department official.
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/ea...ticket-to-travel/amp_articleshow/66572780.cms
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