Representatives of Hindu migrants from Pakistan, who arrived by the Thar Express on Sunday, met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday in Jodhpur and sought refugee status for them. The group of 171, comprising 35 women and around 70 children and youth, appeared determined as they told Mr. Gehlot that they did not want to go back. The migrants were led by Hindu Singh Sodha, Jodhpur-based social activist. He has been working for the rehabilitation and citizenship of the “displaced” Hindus from Pakistan. Mr. Gehlot promised “all possible” help and instructed the District Collector to provide all help to the migrants. In the meantime, he would talk to the Centre on the issue, Mr. Gehlot told Mr. Sodha at the Jodhpur airport where they had the meeting.

This has been the biggest ever group to migrate to west Rajasthan from the adjoining districts on the other side of the border in Pakistan and it appears to be only the beginning if the border watchers are to be believed. Having crossed the border by train, they escaped near-bonded situations from the districts of Sanghar, Hyderababad and the newly formed district of Matiari in Sindh province. The migrants have come on religious visa for 30 days. Prior to this, the largest number of Hindus seeking asylum or refugee status in India arrived in 1965 after the India-Pakistan war. There is an estimated 1.20 lakh persons from Pakistan living in India as migrants.