Bengaluru, Apr 26 (UNI) The Congress-led Karnataka government on Saturday faced a barrage of criticism after reports emerged that it had not deported 15 Pakistani nationals residing in Uttara Kannada district, despite a central directive issued in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indians.
According to officials, the Pakistani nationals—comprising 14 women married to Indian citizens in Bhatkal and one individual residing in Karwar—hold valid long-term visas renewed every two years and have pending citizenship applications.
The Karnataka police clarified that under existing laws, these individuals could not be forcibly deported unless their visas expired or their applications were explicitly rejected.
Following the Pahalgam attack, the Union Home Ministry had directed states to deport Pakistani nationals within 48 hours, except Hindus on long-term visas. However, Karnataka authorities cited legal constraints, saying that the individuals in question had entered India legally and were awaiting decisions on their citizenship applications, some pending since 2010.
The clarification has triggered outrage across social media platforms, with hashtags such as #DeportPakNationals and #KarnatakaPakistani trending. Many users accused the Karnataka government of 'sheltering terror sympathisers' and compromising national security for political reasons.
Bhatkal’s demographic, with historical links to terror modules, further fueled concerns among citizens and opposition leaders, who alleged that the Congress government was placing "politics above patriotism".
State officials maintained that humanitarian concerns also needed consideration, especially for women married into Indian families, and reiterated that action could only be taken within the ambit of the law.
Meanwhile, the political slugfest intensified with BJP leaders demanding immediate deportation of all Pakistani nationals residing in Karnataka and accusing the Congress of "betraying the nation" at a critical time.
The state currently hosts 88 Pakistani nationals, of whom 84 are on long-term visas and four on short-term permits, officials said.
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