Following CAA protests, the demand for providing dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in several camps across Tamilnadu is gaining momentum. Many including former Chief Minister of Sri Lankan Northern province C V Vigneswaran have urged India to extend the same as they have been living in the country for more than three decades.
They were staying in India for more than 30 years and they were extended several welfare benefits by the Indian government all these years.
There are more than one lakh Lankan Tamils living in Tamilnadu and their children have born and brought up here and are getting education in Tamilnadu. However a majority of them want to return to their homeland. Tamilnadu is providing several facilities including higher education for their children.
And for them to continue their education, they need dual citizenship, many say. However, many of them say that they want to return to their country soon. They also add that the foundation was not set for their return.
Interestingly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is believed to have assured Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami that the Centre would look into the issue of dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils at an appropriate time.
The demand was first made by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who promised that she would urge the Centre to extend dual citizenship for refugees staying in government camps or outside, which would enable them to get employment.