Gujarat: 195 applicants granted Indian citizenship at Ahmedabad camp
On December 11, a special citizenship‑registration event organized by the Ahmedabad district officials saw 195 individuals officially receive Indian passports. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Minister of State for Urban Development Darshana Vaghela presided over the ceremony, which welcomed both new CAA applicants and people who had waited long for their earlier petitions to be processed.
During the brief, Sanghavi spoke with a palpable emotion, greeting the newcomers by saying, “Muskuraaiye! Ab aap sab Bharat ke nagrik hain.” He pointed out that it’s rare for a state to grant citizenship to so many people in one session, and praised those who had come to India years earlier, enduring hardship, and who now finally get a sense of dignity and security.
The batch comprised 122 certificates issued under the Citizenship Amendment Act and 73 that filled in the backlog of older applications. Sanghavi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the reform that safeguards minorities fleeing persecution in neighboring nations and highlighted how the CAA has enabled displaced families to rebuild their lives with identity, rights, and pride. He lauded the district administration for its steady work, noting that certificates have been issued in Ahmedabad since 2017 “with commendable efficiency and sensitivity.”
Minister Vaghela echoed the sentiment, congratulating the recipients and telling them that their long‑awaited dreams were finally coming true. She reminded the crowd that “India embodies the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Today, we welcome you into the Indian family.” She praised the central government for acknowledging the plights of persecuted communities and offering a humane solution through the CAA.
Several of the new citizens shared heartfelt reflections. Gynaecologist Maheshkumar Purohit, who had been living in India since 1956, explained that he only realized he wasn’t a citizen when applying for a passport; after several attempts, he finally received approval in April 2025 and could travel to see his daughter for the first time. Engineer Pooja Abhimanyu described the certificate as “not a piece of paper, but everything,” thanking the government for giving her family the dignity and safety they deserved. MLA Payal Kukurani reminded that persecuted minorities across borders have suffered for generations, and urged the new citizens to help strengthen the nation.
Census Director Sujal Mayatra gave a briefing on the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and outlined the procedures now in force under the amended rules. The event was attended by Mayor Pratibha Jain, several MLAs, District Collector Sujit Kumar, District Development Officer Videh Khare, senior officials, representatives from social organisations, community leaders, and a large gathering of citizens.
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