NEW DELHI, Dec 23 � The Centre is not inclined to offer citizenship to the Hindu Bengalis who had fled from Bangladesh to India after 1971 and instead may offer them Long Term Visa (LTV), highly placed sources said.
A meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with representative associations especially of minority communities from neighbouring countries to address their grievances related to grant of LTV and Indian citizenship, proved to be an unsavoury experience for Hindu Bengali organisations of Assam.
The meeting, chaired by Additional Secretary (Foreigners) in the MHA BK Prasad with about 75 representatives from 15 associations discussed problems being faced by minority communities from neighbouring countries in acquiring LTV and citizenship.
The representatives were also told about the procedure for grant of LTV and Indian citizenship and the various initiatives undertaken by the MHA towards addressing their grievances and difficulties, official sources said.
The Bharatiya Loka Manch (BLM), a joint body 10 Hindu Bengali organisations, however, alleged that they were insulted and they felt �betrayed� by the attitude of the Home Ministry officials.
�We were not allowed to put across our point of view at the meeting as officials focused on those to who came from Pakistan,� alleged president of BLM Sudendu Mohan Talukdar, who said that they protested the behaviour of the MHA officials.
He charged that the government was interested in talking about LTV only and not granting citizenship.
The joint body wanted all Bengali Hindus, who fled Bangladesh after facing atrocities, to be granted Indian citizenship.
Talukdar also blasted the BJP and its seven MPs for not cooperating with them and leaving them in the lurch.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Centre is only keen on talking about LTV and not granting citizenship to those who came after 1971. However, the Bengali organisations said they are not sure about the Centre�s stand even on those who came during 1947- 1971.
Meanwhile, it was decided that teams of MHA officials would fan out to 24 identified districts for citizenship in eight States and 14 districts for LTV cases of these applicants. The visiting officials will hold camps during the next two months and assist the applicants in the settlement of citizenship and LTV cases. However, Assam is not among the destination states.