TN to strive for citizenship to Sri Lankan refugees: Min

Madurai: The state government will continue to press the Centre to offer Indian citizenship to Sri Lankan refugees, including their children born in India, especially if one of the parents is Indian, said minister for minorities welfare, refugees and wakf board Gingee K S Masthan. He said chief minister M K Stalin had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister when he met him recently.
He was speaking to reporters after inspecting hostels in educational institutions in Madurai.``It is 35 years since they came here and their families have become bigger. Some of their houses are small, so providing new houses is also being considered,’’ he said. The minister said all steps would be taken to offer quality food to students from minority communities staying in hostels. He said 32 persons people from Tamil Nadu had died abroad after this government assumed charge. The government brought 30 of the bodies back.