Lucknow, Jan 30 (NationPress) Uttar Pradesh minister Anil Rajbhar expressed support on Friday for the state cabinet’s decision to facilitate the resettlement of 99 Hindu Bengali families displaced from Bangladesh, deeming it an extremely significant move and calling for similar initiatives to be adopted nationwide.

Rajbhar, who also serves as the spokesperson for the UP government, remarked to IANS, 'This decision is commendable, and it should be implemented throughout the entire nation.'

'In light of the major decision made by the Modi government, the Uttar Pradesh administration is providing opportunities to these individuals, and words of appreciation for this initiative are insufficient,' he continued.

Reflecting on historical context, Rajbhar noted that Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar had previously communicated with then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, emphasizing the forced conversions of Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and advocating for citizenship for those seeking refuge in India. Unfortunately, at that time, strict criteria and deadlines were instituted, denying citizenship to later arrivals.

On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh State Cabinet approved a proposal to resettle these Hindu Bengali families who had originally fled East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and have been residing in Meerut district.

This decision is particularly notable as it comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, where the topics of refugee rehabilitation and citizenship remain politically charged.

Government officials revealed that the 99 Hindu Bengali families have occupied land designated for a lake in Nangla Gosai village, located in Mawana tehsil of Meerut district, for decades. These families have been living there 'illegally' due to the lack of a formal rehabilitation policy, even though their displacement occurred many years ago.

To address this issue permanently, the state government plans to relocate all 99 families to Rasulabad tehsil in Kanpur Dehat district, where they will receive land and necessary facilities for resettlement. Officials stated that this move seeks to balance humanitarian needs with environmental and legal issues connected to the lake.

Party leaders assert that the cabinet's decision underscores the government’s commitment to resolving long-standing rehabilitation matters while reaffirming its ideological stance on refugee protection.

The state government is poised to initiate the resettlement process in the upcoming weeks, officials noted.