VISAS TO PUNJABIS WHO SOUGHT POLITICAL ASYLUM DURING MILITANCY

Sekhwan pleads for liberal view on visas –calls on Consul General in San Francisco

Chandigarh, April 26:

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan called on Mrs.Susmita Gongulee Thomas, Consul General of India in San Francisco to plead for liberal view on those unfortunate Punjabis who sought political asylum in US during dark days of militancy and were now being forced to live in ‘enforced exile’.

Demanding a liberal view on visas to such unfortunate Punjabis who don’t have any criminal background, Mr. Sekhwan said that as Minister in charge, he was receiving scores of requests from the families of these persons. He said that it was matter of great regret that these Punjabis had to seek asylum due to peculiar political situation in the state during those dark days. He said that these Punjabis are being denied the basic right of meeting their families in Punjab despite return of normalcy in Punjab since last two decades.

The Minister also raised the point of alleged corrupt practices by local travel agents in arranging visas and passports for vulnerable Punjabis in US.

Taking a serious view of the corruption allegations  against some unauthorized agents the Consul General asked for written complaints and assured Mr Sekhwan that she would thoroughly get enquired the complaints.  She assured that if anyone was found guilty, he would have to face the music.

Mr Sekhwan was accompanied by Mr Jobanjit Singh, Talwinder Gill, Ronak Singh (L.A.), Vikram Singh, Parmjit S. Pamma (Yuba City), Rajbir S. Panu (Selma).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Home

• IMMIGRATION NEWS