NEW DELHI, 20 September 2020, (TON): In a statement issued on today, Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai disclosed that during 2015-2019, out of 18,855 people of 56 nationalities who were granted Indian citizenship, 15,012  were Bangaldeshi, 2,668 Pakistani, 109 Sri Lankan, 665 Afghan and 105 American citizens.

In addition to these figures, 40 Nepali, 40 UK, 23 Kenya, 21 Malaysia, 18 Canada and 18 Singapore citizens were also given Indian citizenship during the same period.

Indian authorities have accepted that there are thousands of foreigners hold up in various detention centers by the Indian law enforcement agencies while over 670 have died during last five years. It was informed that in Assam alone, over 1,000 foreigners are lodged in six detention camps out of which 28 have died. India is facing serious problems about these foreigners who are not being given Indian nationality despite a lot of effort. Those living in detention camps have serious complaints about inhuman environment and non-availability of even normal facilities.  It was reported that a good number of new Indian national holders are also being settled in disputed Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir State.