Kashmiri girl gets US scholarship,denied passport as her uncle was militant

[Aka123]

[video]http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/kashmiri-girl-gets-us-scholarship-denied-passport-because-her-uncle-was-a-militant/285678?v_also_see[/video]


Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir: She was offered a scholarship by the US, but orphaned Kashmiri teenager Sufaira has been denied a passport by her own country - just because her uncle was a militant even before she was born.

15-year-old Sufaira Jan, who stays in an orphanage in Budgam, was to have left for the US in the first week of August, after winning a one-year scholarship under the India-US Youth Exchange Study programme.

She cleared four exams and an interview in the US embassy in Delhi in March to get an invitation from America, becoming an inspiration for the entire orphanage.

But reality hit hard when she applied for a passport in April, this year. The Jammu and Kashmir state government did not give her a clearance, based on the state CID's (Criminal Investigation Department) records on her uncle, a former militant who surrendered in 1995.

"The government doesn't understand that if my uncle was a militant in the past, and is now surrendered and lives a normal life, what is my fault? I am not a militant," Sufaira told NDTV.

Though she should have been on her way to the US by now, Sufaira still has her fingers crossed. "I really want to go to America - I cleared all the exams successfully. Even my friends are praying for me"

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's response should encourage her.

As NDTV highlighted Sufaira's story, chief minister tweeted: "Needless to say she will NOT be denied a passport because of her uncle's past. All such pending cases of previous denials are being cleared."


Kashmiri girl gets US scholarship, denied passport because her uncle was a militant | NDTV.com

 

[livingdead]

Good job NDTV bringing such cases to light, she should get urgent passport..

 

[p(-)0ENiX]

So in the end, she will still get her passport & be able to study abroad? All is well that ends well! Good luck to her!

 

[Aka123]

So in the end, she will still get her passport & be able to study abroad? All is well that ends well! Good luck to her!

Yes that's what the J&K CM says.... hope she gets that soon!!

 

[p(-)0ENiX]

Yes that's what the J&K CM says.... hope she gets that soon!!

Yeah, that's what I meant by "all is well that ends well".

 

[Kompromat]

Send her over here

 

[Tikolo]

Send her over here

wtf, she is 15 dude

 

[Aka123]

Finally, a passport for this Kashmiri teen

Srinagar: After initially being rejected, Kashmiri teenager Sufaira Jan has now been given a passport. The 15-year-old has been offered a scholarship by the US, but was denied a passport - just because her uncle was a militant even before she was born.

The Central Investigation Department or CID cleared her case and she was handed over her passport last evening.

Sufaira Jan, who stays in an orphanage in Budgam, was planning to leave for the US in the first week of August, after winning a one-year scholarship under the India-US Youth Exchange Study programme.

She cleared four exams and an interview in the US embassy in Delhi in March to get an invitation from America, becoming an inspiration for the entire orphanage.

But reality hit hard when she applied for a passport in April, this year. The Jammu and Kashmir state government did not give her a clearance, based on the state CID's records on her uncle, a former militant who surrendered in 1995.

"The government doesn't understand that if my uncle was a militant in the past, and is now surrendered and lives a normal life, what is my fault? I am not a militant," Sufaira had told NDTV.

As NDTV highlighted Sufaira's story, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had tweeted: "Needless to say she will NOT be denied a passport because of her uncle's past. All such pending cases of previous denials are being cleared."


Finally, a passport for this Kashmiri teen | NDTV.com

 

[Parul]

Congratulations, Sufaira! Wish you best!

 

[notsuperstitious]

Good she got it in the end.

BUT, I was not aware the police would give a reason for denying clearance. Do they do that?