Indian foreign minister promises to help Pakistani Hindu refugee girl

Published May 30, 2016
Mashal Maheshwari was not allowed to sit for a pre-medical test because of her Pakistani origin. ─Photo: CNN News18/File
Mashal Maheshwari was not allowed to sit for a pre-medical test because of her Pakistani origin. ─Photo: CNN News18/File

NEW DELHI: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday promised to help a Pakistani Hindu refugee girl seeking admission in an Indian medical college.

Mashal Maheshwari, a Pakistani Hindu girl living in India, was asked by Swaraj to contact her regarding the issues she is facing while striving to secure an admission in a medical college due to her Pakistani origin.

"Mashal - I am watching you on CNN News. Please contact me on Telephone : 011-23794344. I am waiting for your call," Sushma tweeted on Monday.

A day before, the Indian External Affairs Minister had assured the aspiring doctor that she will personally take up her case for admission in an Indian medical college.

"Mashal - Don't be disappointed my child. I will personally take up your case for admission in a Medical College" Swaraj had tweeted on May 29, Sunday.

On May 27, India's CNN News18 highlighted the issue of the Pakistani Hindu girl, whose family is living under refugee status in the Indian city of Jaipur since 2014 'after her father was attacked thrice in Pakistan'.

The report added Mashal is now facing issues in appearing for Pre-Medical Test (PMT), necessary for a medical college admission, despite scoring 91 per cent marks in her 12th grade board exams.

The girl's parents had asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and save her future. They had also written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, asking them to assist in the matter.

Also Read: 5,000 Hindus migrating to India every year, NA told

"I have always wanted to be a doctor like my parents but I cannot under these circumstances. There are two categories Indian citizens and as foreigners we would have to pay a huge fee which my parents cannot afford since we came from Pakistan in an emergency and left everything behind," Mashall told CNN News 18.

After Sushma's intervention, Mashal's mother told the same media house that she is happy the minister has assured of help to her daughter.

Mashal also thanked the minister and the Indian prime minister, urging them to do 'something very very soon' and 'within the time limit' of the admission process.

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