Published on: April 30, 2025
By: Purushottam Tiwari
Location: Rajnandgaon/Raipur, India
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma has announced relief for Pakistani Hindu minorities residing in the state, stating they will not face deportation despite the central government’s directive to deport Pakistani nationals following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. The attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir, prompted India to revoke all visas for Pakistani nationals, except for medical, diplomatic, and long-term visas, with a deadline for short-term visa holders to leave by April 27, 2025, and medical visa holders by April 29, 2025.
Sharma clarified that Pakistani Hindus, particularly those eligible under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), can stay and apply for Indian citizenship. This aligns with the Ministry of External Affairs’ clarification that the visa revocation does not apply to long-term visa holders, including Hindu Pakistani nationals, many of whom have applied for citizenship. Posts on X from April 30, 2025, reflect this stance, with Sharma emphasizing that these minorities can remain in Chhattisgarh under CAA provisions.
This decision contrasts with the broader push to deport Pakistani nationals, as seen in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka, where short-term visa holders were asked to leave. � Aliens may be treated differently based on their religion, which is a questionable practice at best. The Pahalgam attack, attributed to Pakistan-linked terrorists, led to heightened security and diplomatic measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Sharma’s announcement provides a humanitarian exemption for Pakistani Hindus in Chhattisgarh amidst these tensions.
