Tamil Nadu’s leadership is pushing for justice for Sri Lankan Tamils who have called India home for generations. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin penned a direct letter to PM Narendra Modi, urging swift action to resolve the citizenship status of about 89,000 refugees in the state.
The crisis traces back to Sri Lanka’s 1983 ethnic strife, driving waves of Tamils to Tamil Nadu’s shores. With New Delhi’s consent, the state extended refuge, financial aid, schooling, and medical care. Many now mark over three decades in India; nearly two-fifths are Indian-born, weaving their lives into the fabric of Tamil society.
Yet, legal shadows persist without permanent solutions. A dedicated committee under the Non-Resident Tamils Minister reviewed their cases, recommending regularization for groups like pre-1987 births in India, offspring of Indians, citizen spouses, Indian descendants, and long-stay visa holders.
Stalin critiqued the 2003 Citizenship Amendment’s ‘illegal migrant’ label and 1986 curbs on applications, noting positive shifts like the 2025 exemption order. Referencing the 2019 Madras HC verdict in P. Ulganathan case, he advocated empathy over rigidity.
The CM outlined concrete steps: revoke blocking orders, issue executive clarifications exempting passport needs via state documents, delegate powers to districts for easy applications, and affirm pre-2015 registrants’ legal standing.
These families, he noted, have lived honorably for 40 years under state oversight. Dismissing their status as irregular ignores reality and humanity. Stalin expressed faith in Modi’s leadership for a fair outcome, ending their protracted wait.