List NRI issues in poll manifesto-NAPA to Punjab Political parties

Jalandhar, November 16 (Punjab Post Bureau)- North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has appealed to all the political parties contesting the Punjab assembly election to list issues related with NRI’s in their election manifesto before seeking support in elections. Satnam Singh Chahal Executive Director of NAPA said that NAPA has been playing important role in welfare of Punjabis living abroad and helped Punjabi immigrants lodged in jails to come out on bail. He said that there are many demands of NRI’s which are pending and it is expected new government in Punjab would resolve these issues. He said that NRIs would support political party which promises to fulfill all demands of them in its election manifesto.

He demanded to pass a bill on NRI’s issues in the state assembly. He said that cases of land and matrimonial disputes of NRI’s shall be addressed on priority by the special courts. The NRI cell of Punjab Police shall work without any political interference. He said that Chief Minister must set up a 21 member committee of NRI’s represented from countries where population of Punjabi NRI’s is high. The committee must meet the CM once in a year.Chahal said that there should be provision for punishment to any official who files false cases against NRI’s. He further said that NRI’s facing petty charges in courts shall not be summoned and arrangement shall be made for video conferencing. He said that passports of NRIs shall not be confiscated unless he has committed some heinous crime. A committee comprising DC,SSP and IG NRI cell of Punjab Police shall form a committee to take decision on passports. He said that there were hundreds of Punjabis in other countries who have no Indian passport and efforts should be made to issue them passports immediately.

Chahal also demanded to give judicial powers to NRI cell or abolish it. He said that NRIs shall be involved in development of Punjab. He said that a manpower export corporation be set up for youth looking for employment in other countries so that they can be saved from loot by private agents. He said that NRIs who have deed documents of their land with them, they should be given possession of land till the time other party proves their right in the court. He also demanded security for lives of NRIs when they come to Punjab and to review the list of absconding NRIs.