Rampur/Lucknow, Oct 29: Nearly two decades after leaving Pakistan for India, 38-year-old Poonam, who has been living in Rampur on a long-term visa, has finally been granted Indian citizenship under the CAA in an unforgettable Diwali gift for her family.
Journey from Swat to Rampur
Poonam, who came to India in 2004 with her brother Gagan amid growing militancy in Pakistan's Swat region, had been waiting for years to secure legal recognition as an Indian citizen.
Brother Granted Citizenship Earlier
Her brother was granted citizenship in 2016, but her own application faced repeated rejections before finally being approved this year under the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Life in India and Marriage in Rampur
Poonam had initially moved between Delhi and Rampur after arriving in India. In 2005, she married Puneet Kumar, a local businessman, and the couple have a child. She continued visiting her family in Pakistan until 2013, when the absence of a valid Pakistani ID prevented the renewal of her passport and effectively ended her visits home.
Family Celebrates Citizenship as Diwali Gift
Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, Puneet Kumar said the family was overjoyed to receive confirmation of her citizenship from the agencies concerned just before Diwali.
"It feels like a festival gift for our family. The timing made this Diwali even more special," he said. The couple said they plan to complete the remaining paperwork soon.
"We will travel to Lucknow in the coming days to finish the remaining formalities of the citizenship process," Puneet added.
Poonam Expresses Her Joy at Becoming Indian Citizen
Poonam, too, expressed her excitement at the new chapter in her life. "Now I want to get my Aadhaar, PAN and other Indian identity documents as soon as possible so that I can truly feel like an Indian citizen," she said.
A Long Wait Finally Ends
It has been a long wait for Poonam, whose journey from Swat to Rampur began when her father, a wholesale food trader, sent her and her brother to India in 2004 to ensure their safety as violence escalated in the region.
The next time she visits her parental home in Mingora, it will be "as an Indian citizen carrying an Indian passport", she said with anticipation.
Citizenship Process Confirmed by Authorities
Rampur Superintendent of Police Vidyasagar Mishra confirmed to PTI that the citizenship process for Poonam has been completed.
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"People on both sides are good. A handful of terrorists in Pakistan have given the country a bad name. As for us, we didn't find any problems on either side of the border," Puneet said, adding that Poonam's family in Mingora have no plans to shift to India.
(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
