Dr. RUBY DHALLA DEMANDS RESTORATION OF AMRITSAR-TORONTO DIRECT FLIGHT

• SEEKS EARLY STARTING OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS FROM MOHALI AIRPORT
• CALLS FOR EARLY PASSAGE OF LAW AGAINST FRAUDULENT MARRIAGES BY NRIS
• REQUESTS FOR EXPEDITING LAW AGAINST ILLEGAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Chandigarh, November 6:

Dr. Ruby Dhalla, has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for both early restoration of the Air India Amritsar-Toronto flight and also expeditious clearance of international flights from Mohali Airport for facilitating the Non-Resident Indians especially Punjabis living in Canada and UK.

In a communiqué to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Union Civil Aviation Minister Mr. Ajit Singh, Ruby Dhalla pleaded with the Prime Minister that with the high season starting of Punjabis visiting Punjab many of the NRI's were facing problems and difficulties due to the lack of direct flights between Amritsar and Toronto. With more than 63% of passengers in the Delhi Airport were from Punjab, it was imperative for Government of India to facilitate their movement by starting more direct international flights from Amritsar and expeditious clearance of international flights from te upcoming Mohali Airport. She brought to the attention of the Prime Minister that progress of the Mohali Airport was quite slow and needed to be expedited

“Many of the Punjabi NRI diaspora both in Canada and the UK has contacted me and made representaions due to the lack of direct connectivity with cities of Punjab. The NRI's are demanding the direct flights from Canada and the UK to Amritsar be immediately restored and that for the convenience of Punjabi NRIs that the Prime Minister must issue directions for starting international flights from Mohali Airport,” said Dr. Dhalla.

In meeting with various Punjabis living in Punjab Dr. Dhalla also raised the issue of focusing on the increasing practice of fraudulent marriages by NRIs in which many innocent girls are left in lurch. In meeting with the families and women impacted by fraud marriages Dr. Dhalla highlighted the need for greater action to help support and empower these women. Ruby Dhalla demanded that the Federal Act against fraudulent marriages be passed by the legislature to put an end to this heinous practice. Ruby Dhalla also commended the Government of Punjab on their progress in assisting and helping these women and requested that in the coming months a website be established to highlight the names of the individuals committing these despicable acts with the daughters of Punjab and also highlighted the need to empower these women with knowledge and skills they need to succeed. In meeting with the elected officials Ruby also demanded a stringent legislation against illegal human trafficking at the earliest.

Dr. Ruby Dhalla was one of the first women of Indian origin elected to federal parliament in the world outside of India. Dr. Dhalla has been a strong champion of raising issues important to the NRI diaspora and has worked with the Punjabi community globally. She is a strong advocate of increasing economic, trade and cultural issues between Canada and India and has worked effectively to bridge the relationship between both nations.

Dhalla, a chiropractor before entering politics in 2004

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