JALANDHAR, Punjab—The two-day NRI Sammelan organized by the Punjab government has failed to solve problems and address issues faced by common Punjabi NRIs. This was disclosed by Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) who is currently in Punjab on an invitation of the Punjab government and who participated in the NRI Sammelan in Anandpur Sahib and in Jalandhar.The NRI wing of the Punjab Police is doing a commendable job and has been serving NRIs in a better way. However, the Sammelan has rather depressed common Punjabi NRIs. It turned out to be a function of NRI politicians who do not face any problems at a personal level in India or abroad due to their influence. It is a matter of regret that no common NRI or any representative organization of NRIs was given time to speak their problems out at the Sammelan. NRI politicians, and politicians from Punjab, remained busy in patting each others’ backs. Those NRI politicians who have been criticizing the increasing VIP culture in Punjab chose to be a part of it as they enjoyed rides on official vehicles fitted with sirens and red beacons. “How can such people talk about or work to redress grievances of common NRIs?” Chahal said.
Executive director of NAPA Chahal alleged that though the Punjab government had fixed some parameters for sending invitations to NRIs, government officials not only flouted these norms but they even indulged in a pick and choose policy to suite their vested interests. They only invited those whom they knew personally and whose hospitality they have been enjoying abroad.
“Leaders even did not deem it fit to even talk about problems faced by NRIs in different countries. Lakhs of Punjabis have been facing problems in getting Indian passports in Western countries. No leader even touched the subject and talked about such a big issue. At their level NRIs are worried about increasing drug addiction in Punjab and large number of deaths in road accidents,” complained Chahal. “Several undocumented Punjabi Youth are detained in one Prison of United States, and Human traffic smuggling is still continuing from Punjab in spite of the law which was passed in the State Assembly in 2010 to stop this kind of human traffic smuggling to western countries but nobody bothered to raise this kind of serious issue.”
He said he had served Akali Dal for a long time and had even gone to jail to strengthen the party. “It is painful to see that though I had sacrificed my comforts for the party but the same party even did not allow me to go near the Dias. They should have at least seen that I had come to India on my own expenses to raise problems of Punjabis and to give some suggestions. Now me and other NRIs like me are going back as a dejected lot. NRI sammelans do not go beyond lip service,” said Satnam Singh Chahal.
Editor’s Note: Sikh24 does not endorse NAPA or its views.
