Sarada Bai, a Pakistani woman who has been living in India for nearly 35 years, has been asked to leave the country. She lives in the Bolangir district of Odisha, is married to an Indian citizen, and has two children who are Indian nationals. Despite spending most of her life in India, she never received Indian citizenship.
Sarada has official documents like a voter ID and has lived peacefully with her family. However, her visa was recently canceled, and her request to continue living in India has not been accepted by the authorities. She said she has no family or home in Pakistan anymore and wishes to stay with her children and grandchildren in India.
Local officials say the decision to deport her is based on current government policies, which have become stricter due to growing tensions between India and Pakistan. In recent months, over 250 Pakistani nationals living in India have reportedly returned to Pakistan, either by choice or due to visa restrictions.
Sarada’s situation has raised concerns about how such long-term residents are treated. Many believe that people who have lived peacefully for decades and built their lives in India should be given a chance to stay, especially when they have Indian families and no connection to their country of origin.
The case highlights the challenges faced by families divided by international borders and political conflicts. As rules get tighter, people like Sarada, who have spent most of their lives in another country, often find themselves caught in the middle.
Sarada continues to hope for a change in decision, requesting only the right to live out her remaining years peacefully with her loved ones in the country she has called home for decades.
