Tamil Nadu Congress Committee spokesperson and general secretary Lakshmi Ramachandran has come under scrutiny for comments on the citizenship process for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. Sharing a clipping of The Hindu article titled “The Bumpy Road to Citizenship”, Ramachandran noted that while some refugee families have recently moved into concrete houses provided by the state government, she could not understand why Hindus from Afghanistan received citizenship so quickly compared to Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus who have been residing in India for 30–40 years. She further stated, “The Hindi heartland gets first preference always,” suggesting a regional bias in the citizenship process.
This article covers the recent progress towards giving citizenship to Srilankan Tamil refugees. It is heartening to read that some of the families have moved into concrete houses provided by the state government. But the fact that Hindus from Afghanistan could get so quickly what… pic.twitter.com/zrO4flcsAh
— Lakshmi Ramachandran (@laksr_tn) October 12, 2025
The situation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees is complex and differs significantly from that of refugees from Afghanistan or Pakistan. Historical factors, including the civil war in Sri Lanka that lasted until 2009, have influenced the experiences of these refugees. Many had initially hoped to return to Sri Lanka, but various obstacles prevented them from doing so.
A significant number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees still wish to return home. Any return would require a structured assistance package to ensure that they can live with dignity. Additionally, the return of at least a portion of the refugee population would increase Tamil representation in Sri Lanka’s Parliament under the country’s proportional representation system.
Experts emphasize the need for India to formalize a clear policy and law for refugees, clarifying that individuals who enter or overstay illegally should not automatically expect citizenship. Observers note that the Indian state’s primary responsibility is to address the issues and needs of its citizens first, while managing refugee populations through structured and legally defined procedures.
Thanks for highlighting my piece.
However, I don’t agree with your observation that the Hindi heartland gets preference in the given issue.
As for Sri Lankan Tamils, the issue is much more complex. Their case can’t be equated with those from Afghanistan or Pakistan. Historical… https://t.co/C3PL4KiHKK
— Ramakrishnan T (@Rama_Krishnan) October 13, 2025
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