Karachi Telugu Hindus Seek CAA Citizenship Over Mumbai Residency

(KARACHI) The last remaining Telugu Hindus in Karachi are seeking relief across the border as India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act opens a faster path to nationality for non‑Muslim minorities from Pakistan. Community elders say nearly all of the roughly 30 Telugu Hindus still living in Karachi—down from a few hundred in the 1990s—are preparing applications after India extended the law’s cut‑off date to December 31, 2024, and fully rolled out online processing.

Families report repeated visits to district committees and long waits, but also growing hope as recent approvals show the process is moving. Those approved say the change brings immediate practical benefits: legal status, voting rights, property ownership and access to social programs.

Timeline and recent policy changes

• India’s Ministry of Home Affairs notified the rules in March 2024 and set up an online system for filing, with the first digital certificates handed over in May 2024.
• Officials later extended eligibility in September 2025, allowing more recent arrivals who entered India by the end of 2024 to apply.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah oversaw the rules notification; Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed out the first certificates in 2024.

The digital rollout and extensions gave this tiny Karachi community renewed hope, especially after at least two ethnic Telugu Hindus from Karachi secured Indian citizenship under the Act in 2025.

Community situation in Karachi

The Telugu Hindu community has shrunk to a close circle in Garden West. Many left after shocks in earlier decades; those who remain report feelings of isolation and aging demographics.

Parents say their priority is a safe, stable future for their children—education, work and the ability to plan long term. They follow news from India, collect documents, and wait for opportunities to leave. But the immediate hurdle for many is crossing into India: border closures, visa limits, and slow consular windows make that the hardest step.

Some elders worry who will care for local shrines, temples and small shops if further departures continue. Others prioritize safety and long‑term prospects for the young.

How the application process works (practical steps)

Officials stress each case is unique and decisions rest on the strength and consistency of documents. The broad steps are:

1. Gather required documents and proof of residence in India.
2. File the online application via the Ministry of Home Affairs portal.
3. District committees review files, verify records and may call applicants for interviews.
4. On approval, applicants receive digital and physical citizenship certificates.

Key details:

• Who can apply: Non‑Muslim minorities—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians—from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024.
• Residence requirement: Applicants must show at least six years of continuous legal residence in India prior to the cut‑off date.
• Language: Demonstrate basic skill in one of the Eighth Schedule languages of the Indian Constitution.
• Documents: Passports, national IDs, tenancy/utility records, school certificates, community letters, employer letters, rent agreements.
• Submission: Applications are filed online through the Ministry portal: Apply for Indian citizenship under CAA.
• Review: District committees verify identity and residence, may request interviews, and decide each case.
• Outcome: Approved applicants receive digital and physical citizenship certificates confirming status and access to rights.

Common challenges applicants face

• Document gaps: Names and dates often differ across passports, IDs, school records or tenancy papers, creating stalls.
• Scheduling delays: District committees may call families multiple times, lengthening timelines.
• Border barriers: Applicants still in Pakistan cannot apply from there; they must reach India first, which can be difficult due to visas and border restrictions.
• Local variability: Reviews and timelines vary by district, so lawyers caution that clear guarantees are hard to provide.

Supporters say scrutiny is necessary to prevent misuse. Critics note the Act excludes Muslims and question any religion‑based cutoff, urging broader human‑rights approaches. The government argues a cut‑off helps manage caseloads and will review needs as conditions change.

Support systems and community assistance

• In Karachi, trusted elders help families prepare packets for departure when travel becomes possible.
• In India, migrant associations provide legal aid, connect new arrivals with district offices, and assist with documentation and uploads.
• Volunteers and community groups often help with data entry, scanning and uploading documents, and preparing explanations for discrepancies.

Officials recommend careful preparation before filing:

• Gather rent agreements, employer letters, school records, and identity documents from Pakistan.
• Use sworn statements or supporting letters to explain variations in names across records.
• Bring school transcripts or community attestations to demonstrate language ability in an Eighth Schedule language.

Broader impact and political debate

Proponents argue the Act corrects a long‑running gap by recognizing risks faced by non‑Muslim minorities in neighboring countries. They view the December 31, 2024 cut‑off as a practical move to include more recent arrivals.

Critics argue any religion‑based criterion is unjust and call for wider human‑rights protections. Some urge further extensions if ongoing harm is demonstrated.

For the Telugu Hindus of Karachi, approvals mean tangible change: stable school admissions, the right to vote, the confidence to start businesses or buy homes, and access to welfare programs. Refugee leaders in India say these steps let people put down roots quickly rather than living year to year on temporary papers.

What to watch next

• More applications are expected following the 2025 extension of the cut‑off.
• If approvals keep pace, the Telugu Hindu presence in India will grow while Karachi’s will shrink further.
• The months ahead will test how effectively the system handles increased demand while maintaining verification standards.

For now, the process is active, the rules are clearer, and the path—though not simple—exists. For the last Telugu Hindus in Karachi, that constitutes the first real opening in years.