By IANS,
Chandigarh: The central government should have a re-look at the ‘black-list’ of Sikhs who had been debarred from entering India for the last many years, Punjab’s minister for public relations and non-resident Indian (NRI) affairs Sewa Singh Sekhwan said here Tuesday.
Addressing a meet-the-press programme, Sekhwan supported the plea of (Jathedar) Gurbachan Singh, chief of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, asking the central government to review the so called ‘blacklist’ (kali suchi) of Sikhs debarred from entering the country.
The list pertains to a number of people settled abroad – mainly in the US, Canada and European countries – who have been debarred from entering India owing to their past direct or indirect involvement with terrorists and separatists.
Punjab had suffered a bloody phase of terrorism between 1981-95 as separatists sought a Sikh state – Khalistan. Over 25,000 people, including several hundred police personnel had lost their lives.
Sekhwan said that the time has come for the government to review the blacklist after restoration of peace in the state.
“These people should be given an opportunity to return home and become partners in the progress of Punjab,” he said.
Sekhwan said he had already discussed the issue with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the director general of police. He added that the chief minister would soon meet the Union home minister and prime minister, requesting them to review the blacklist.
Referring to problems being faced by NRIs, Sekhwan said that the Punjab government would soon constitute a commission for NRIs. He said that the terms and conditions of the commission would be finalised in consultation with the Punjabi diaspora. The commission would be headed by a retired high court judge.
“The commission will entertain only those issues that cannot be tackled by any department. It is being constituted to provide expeditious relief to the NRIs in their various disputes, especially in the matter of property, marital and immigration,” he added.