Modi ‘disappoints’ US Sikhs
Friday, 03/10/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141003/punjab.htm#17
Chandigarh :The seven million-strong Punjabi diaspora is elated over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative on life-long visa to Indian Americans. But Sikhs in North America are upset over his silence on hate crimes. They say the Sikhs have been living under the shadow of fear after the 9/11 attack.
The Union Home ministry has reportedly notified changes in the PIO (persons of Indian origin) scheme to enable those with a PIO card (earlier valid for 15 years earlier) to get visas for life.
The initiative will help the 70 lakh Punjabis living in foreign countries. They will no longer have to register themselves with area police stations. “On-arrival visa is the biggest gift for overseas Punjabis. They will not have to travel to Indian missions for getting visas,” said Kamaljit Singh Hayre, former president, NRI Sabha.
The PIOs will also be granted overseas citizens of India facilities. “They will be able to do business in India without any impediment apart from purchasing residential property in their own names,” said Mohinder Singh Bains, an NRI from Norway who hails from Adampur Doaba in Jalandhar.
Manjinder Pal Singh, a former IFS officer-turned-businessman who is based in San Francisco, said: “In the US, there is just one embassy and five consulates for 52 states. Fifteen states on the West Coast have just one Indian consulate in San Francisco. The Indians now will be saved from a lot of botheration”, he said. “Modi’s visit may be successful from the diplomatic and business point of view. But he has disappointed the American Sikhs,” said Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director, NAPA.
