Jaipur: Amid protests against Citizenship Amendment Act that gives citizenship to persecuted minorities, the plight of Pakistani Hindus living in India continues. Dami Kohli, a Hindu refugee from Pakistan, was asked by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education to provide her eligibility certificate to appear for 12th standard examination.
Dami Kohli and her family had escaped from Pakistan after they were persecuted for being Hindus. She is living in Anganwa refugee camp, which is 20 km from Jodhpur. She had completed her 10th standard in a school in Pakistan before escaping from the Islamic nation.
Kohli joined a local school here and pursued her education. She passed the 11th standard and was preparing for her board exams when the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education demanded her eligibility.
Kohli said, “I took admission in the school in 2018. I studied there for the whole year and passed the 11th standard. I have my mark-sheet also to validate it. Only one month is left for the board exams and the school has given me a notice stating that I will not be allowed to appear for the examination.”
She added, “I have given all the proofs. I should also get the right to education.”
The state board rejected her examination form only because she had cleared her 10th from Pakistan.
The State Education Minister, Govind Singh Dotasara, said she would be allowed to write the examination.
There are many Hindus who have fled to India after being persecuted in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan for their religion. The Citizenship Amendment Act is a step in giving a future to these minorities who cannot go back to the country they were born. Cases like Dami Kohli keeps reminding us about our commitment to these communities who fled the torture of Islamic hegemony.
