NRI exile in U.S.A. for 20 years under 1984 anti-India propaganda, landed in Punjab

Toronto, July 15, 2009
Sher Singh

NRI Daljit Singh s/o S. Ghasita Singh Lubana Sikh R/o V. Baagwanpur P.S Bholath Distt. Kapurthala living in exile for the last 20 years in the U.S.A. has returned home after the government deleted his name from the black list.

In these days, some MLAs are very qualified and hard workers to attract NRIs for investment in their States. One example:

MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who took up the matter with the union ministry to help NRI Daljit Singh who had no criminal record in the past and not even one case was registered against him anywhere in the country.

Read: email to NRIpress in April, 2009

Dated 11.4.09
Sukhpal Singh Khaira,
MLA Bholath.

Subject:- Deletion of name from Black list and Union War book of S. Daljit Singh s/o S. Ghasita Singh Lubana Sikh R/o V. Baagwanpur P.S Bholath Distt. Kapurthala living in exile for the last 20 years in the U.S.A.

In a major achievement, I have been able to get the name of S. Daljit Singh a Lubana Sikh deleted from the Black list prepared by Govt. of India and the Union War book prepared by the Intelligence wing of Punjab Police who was forced to live in exile in the U.S.A for over 20 years.

Bibi Gian Kaur widow and mother of S. Daljit Singh had been running from pillar to post to get her son’s case reviewed from the Black listed Sikhs living abroad, so that he could visit his motherland. When, I was approached by her, I immediately wrote a letter dated 20.6.08 to the then Home Minister Sh. Shivraj Patil (Copy of letter attached) for review and deleted S. Daljit Singh’s name from the Black list.

Thereafter a string of inquiries followed by various intelligence agencies of India including RAW, IB and the intelligence wing of the Punjab police. After 6 months of intense pursuit at various levels of Govt. including Chandigarh and Delhi particularly with Sh. Asim Khurana, IAS Joint Secretary Ministry of Home, foreigners’ Division G.O.I We met with success and the Govt. vide letter dated 8.12.08 cleared the name of S. Daljit Singh not only from the black list but from the Union War book as well
----------------------

We, all aware that when the Indian army in 1984, stormed the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in Amritsar, Punjab, to flush out the armed religious extremists, the Indian government blacklisted NRI Sikhs involved in anti-India propaganda and vandalism in foreign countries following the infamous Operation Bluestar of 1984.

It is also understandable and very clear that India, the largest democracy in the world, continues to deny entry to many NRI Sikhs who are accused of "anti-national" activities.

The Operation Bluestar of 1984 infuriated Sikhs across the world, compelling idealistic, emotional youths to join militant ranks. There were very angry and protested in Vancouver, Toronto, US and UK, where hotheaded men vandalized the Indian consulate office in Canada. Subsequently, the government of India blacklisted Sikhs involved in separatist activities, citing security concerns.

In 2008, Rajinder Bhandari, BJP leader, sparked the issue during his visit to Vancouver, said that he would press Indian Govt. to get the blacklists of the Sikhs reviewed. In fact, a few Sikh journalists are also blacklisted. Harkirat Singh of the Punjab Guardian was forced to return from India, the country of his birth, despite having a valid visa. Bhandari joked during a photo session with the Sikh journalists that, "either your names will be removed from the list, or my name will also be added to it." In 2003, the BJP government tried to take advantage of anti-Congress feelings within its ranks and allow 22 Sikhs in Canada to visit India in 2003.

Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to a question of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, said at a press conference that it was a "painful episode. But it cannot be kept alive for ever." After the UPA government came to power in 2004, he said, it had reviewed the cases and enhanced compensation for the victims.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, "I would infact again urge the Govt. of India to order thorough review of entire black list of Sikhs residing abroad on humane grounds. Many innocent Sikhs such as Daljit Singh against whom there was no case or any criminal record were forced to live in exile for such long periods without any reason"