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30,000 Punjabis still ‘stranded’ in Lebanon
Mahesh Sharma
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 24
As many as 30,000 Punjabis were still stranded in Lebanon, claimed one of the evacuees who reached his Kalsian village near the last night. Un-remunerative forming was forcing Punjabi youth to countries like Lebanon, some of whom have been evacuated by the Indian Embassy in that country.
Now when that region has become war-ravaged parents of evacuated youths feel scared to send them again there. However the evacuees were still ready to return if conditions improved in that country.
According to Mr Joginder Singh of Kalsian village near here and an evacuee in Operation Sukoon, at least 30,000 Punjabis majority of them from farming families were stranded in Lebanon. “Besides 15,000 Punjabis living legally there an equal number had reportedly shifted allegedly in illegal manner. But the Indian embassy did not discriminate between the two categories and promptly prepared documents for the evacuation of everyone irrespective of his status in that country,” said Joginder Singh to The Tribune.
Surrounded by his relatives, who had come to know-his well-being Joginder Singh, a White Card holder of Lebanon said hundreds of youths who had gone in search of greener pastures after spending thousands , had to leave their property, money and everything they had with them. Evacuation, according to him would become more difficult in future as Syria had refused to give passage to evacuees. However, the naval ship carrying him along with 53 other Punjabis had passed through Larcana and Cyprus to reach Mumbai.
Terrorism in the last decade of 20th century, forced Joginder Singh, and many more, to leave the country and settle in any foreign country irrespective of future prospects. “As a large number of Sikh youth had been harassed either by the police or the hardliners my parents decided to send me to some foreign country in 1990. I was lucky enough to get permanent card at Lebanon a rigorous life for many years,” said Mr Joginder Singh.
Though terrorism was cited as major reason for shifting to a disturbed country like Lebanon he continued living there as agriculture was not remunerative enough to support families of three brothers here. “Though life is very hard in Lebanon, particularly for unskilled labour, it decided to settle permanently there considering economic position of my parents and brothers. Instead of being profitable agriculture has been pushing the family in vicious circle of loans and losses,” explained Mr Joginder Singh.
Mr Joginder went to Lebanon on June 24 after getting married to Baljit Kaur of Kaunke Kalan on February 24. Baljit Kaur like other members of families at Kalsian and Kaunke had been cursing the times when the elder members of both families allowed Joginder to return to Lebanon so soon. But we are happy that our prayers bore fruit, when the Indian embassy officials acted swiftly and arranged to send as many families as could,” thanked Mrs Bachan Kaur, mother of Mr Joginder Singh.
Mahesh Sharma
Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 24
As many as 30,000 Punjabis were still stranded in Lebanon, claimed one of the evacuees who reached his Kalsian village near the last night. Un-remunerative forming was forcing Punjabi youth to countries like Lebanon, some of whom have been evacuated by the Indian Embassy in that country.
Now when that region has become war-ravaged parents of evacuated youths feel scared to send them again there. However the evacuees were still ready to return if conditions improved in that country.
According to Mr Joginder Singh of Kalsian village near here and an evacuee in Operation Sukoon, at least 30,000 Punjabis majority of them from farming families were stranded in Lebanon. “Besides 15,000 Punjabis living legally there an equal number had reportedly shifted allegedly in illegal manner. But the Indian embassy did not discriminate between the two categories and promptly prepared documents for the evacuation of everyone irrespective of his status in that country,” said Joginder Singh to The Tribune.
Surrounded by his relatives, who had come to know-his well-being Joginder Singh, a White Card holder of Lebanon said hundreds of youths who had gone in search of greener pastures after spending thousands , had to leave their property, money and everything they had with them. Evacuation, according to him would become more difficult in future as Syria had refused to give passage to evacuees. However, the naval ship carrying him along with 53 other Punjabis had passed through Larcana and Cyprus to reach Mumbai.
Terrorism in the last decade of 20th century, forced Joginder Singh, and many more, to leave the country and settle in any foreign country irrespective of future prospects. “As a large number of Sikh youth had been harassed either by the police or the hardliners my parents decided to send me to some foreign country in 1990. I was lucky enough to get permanent card at Lebanon a rigorous life for many years,” said Mr Joginder Singh.
Though terrorism was cited as major reason for shifting to a disturbed country like Lebanon he continued living there as agriculture was not remunerative enough to support families of three brothers here. “Though life is very hard in Lebanon, particularly for unskilled labour, it decided to settle permanently there considering economic position of my parents and brothers. Instead of being profitable agriculture has been pushing the family in vicious circle of loans and losses,” explained Mr Joginder Singh.
Mr Joginder went to Lebanon on June 24 after getting married to Baljit Kaur of Kaunke Kalan on February 24. Baljit Kaur like other members of families at Kalsian and Kaunke had been cursing the times when the elder members of both families allowed Joginder to return to Lebanon so soon. But we are happy that our prayers bore fruit, when the Indian embassy officials acted swiftly and arranged to send as many families as could,” thanked Mrs Bachan Kaur, mother of Mr Joginder Singh.