Ludhiana January 30:
Even as the state government claims to have cleared the blacklist of Punjabi NRIs, many names are yet to be deleted from the list.
Stating this here today, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said, only 26 names have been deleted out of a total of 154. Sarna, who was in city to attend a function, said the rest of the NRIs were finding it difficult to visit home. They were either denied visa and if they were finally allowed they were harassed at the airports.
Sarna led a delegation, which met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a fortnight ago and asked him to look into the matter. “The PM has promised that he would soon ask the ministry concerned to get those name deleted after consulting the state government again,” claimed Sarna.
He said the delegation also took up the issue of implementation of the Anand Marriage Act and granting citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan who have been living here for past 12 years. Alleging that these people are being discriminated against, Sarna said as per rules citizenship is granted after five years of living in India. “We also gave a representation to the PM about implementation of the Anand Marriage Act. He assured an early action,” said Sarna.
Speaking about the Youth Akali Dal rally held here yesterday, Sarna said Akalis could not even gather masses as many chairs were empty while several chairs had been occupied by members of the migrant community. Showing pictures to corroborate his claim, Sarna said even the food prepared for the participants was disposed off in ganda nullah instead of distributing it to the poor.
Even as the state government claims to have cleared the blacklist of Punjabi NRIs, many names are yet to be deleted from the list.
Stating this here today, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna said, only 26 names have been deleted out of a total of 154. Sarna, who was in city to attend a function, said the rest of the NRIs were finding it difficult to visit home. They were either denied visa and if they were finally allowed they were harassed at the airports.
Sarna led a delegation, which met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a fortnight ago and asked him to look into the matter. “The PM has promised that he would soon ask the ministry concerned to get those name deleted after consulting the state government again,” claimed Sarna.
He said the delegation also took up the issue of implementation of the Anand Marriage Act and granting citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan who have been living here for past 12 years. Alleging that these people are being discriminated against, Sarna said as per rules citizenship is granted after five years of living in India. “We also gave a representation to the PM about implementation of the Anand Marriage Act. He assured an early action,” said Sarna.
Speaking about the Youth Akali Dal rally held here yesterday, Sarna said Akalis could not even gather masses as many chairs were empty while several chairs had been occupied by members of the migrant community. Showing pictures to corroborate his claim, Sarna said even the food prepared for the participants was disposed off in ganda nullah instead of distributing it to the poor.
