Stalin urges Modi to clear citizenship path for Sri Lankan Tamils in TN

M. K. Stalin has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove administrative barriers blocking citizenship applications of Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu, just weeks before the state assembly elections .

In a letter, Stalin sought the rescinding of 1986 administrative instructions that restrict citizenship processing for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. He said these long-standing rules prevent thousands from accessing a durable legal solution , despite decades of residence in India.

The refugee influx began in 1983 after ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka erupted into widespread violence between the Sinhalese-majority state and Tamil militant groups. The anti-Tamil pogrom Black July triggered mass displacement, pushing tens of thousands across the Palk Strait into Tamil Nadu. Successive state governments, with the Centre’s support, have provided shelter, education, healthcare and subsistence support ever since.

Today, about 89,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in the state. Nearly 40 percent were born in India , and many families have resided here for over 30 years. Despite integration, they face prolonged legal uncertainty , lacking Indian citizenship or long-term visas.

The 1986 instructions require strict scrutiny and higher-level clearances, meaning many applications remain pending. Verification of travel documents such as passports—often lost or never possessed, combined with limited powers at the district level, slows processing. Stalin requested administrative waivers for passport and visa requirements and delegation of powers to district authorities for faster processing.

Life in refugee camps remains modest. Families often live in small one-room tenements, dependent on cash assistance and limited employment. For the younger generation born in Tamil Nadu, the absence of citizenship creates hurdles in education, employment, property ownership and travel .

The Union government has not publicly responded to Stalin’s request. With assembly elections approaching , the move carries political weight. If delayed or rejected, the DMK could use it against its rival alliance AIADMK, aligned with the BJP, appealing to Tamil sentiment . For those who fled war decades ago, the wait for permanent legal recognition continues.