36 NAMES OUT OF BLACKLIST
CHANDIGARH: Coinciding with the US visit of PM Narendra Modi, the Union home ministry on Thursday took 36 Sikhs off its “blacklist”, which will allow them to come home to the country they fled during terrorism days in Punjab. Most of these expatriates who took political asylum abroad still have families in Punjab. “It is good news for them that they can now meet their brothers back home,” said New York’s Richmond hill gurdwara chairman Mohan Singh Khattra. >>
CHANDIGARH: Coinciding with the US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday took 36 Sikhs off its “black list”, which will allow them to come home to the country they fled during terrorism days in Punjab.
Most of these expatriates who took political asylum abroad still have families in Punjab. “It is good news for them that they can now meet their brothers and sisters back home,” said New York’s Richmond hill gurdwara chairman Mohan Singh Khattra.
To come back, they require visa from where they have been living for the past 30 to 35 years. The list kept secret until the early 2000 got importance when the expatriates and political leaders started raising their voice. It’s from Belgium that Modi landed in the US, where he will also meet the Sikhs who on his last visit had asked him to resolve the blacklist issue and let them travel to India. The PM will next go to Saudi Arabia. NO CLARITY YET The Centre has not disclosed the names struck off the list, which has cause confusion, since different organisations are circulating different lists. There is no clarity on even the number yet.
These blacklisted Sikhs have been living in the US and Canada in North America; and the UK, France and Germany in Europe. The Indian embassies and high commissions will use gurdwara announcements to make the Sikh diaspora aware of this relaxation.
The “blacklisted” Sikhs include top Khalistan promoters, former militants, those connected to the ideology without a criminal record, and those who Management Committee (DSGMC), and Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (an offshoot of Hindu radical organisation Rashtriya Swyamsewak Sangh) have been pursuing the issue with the them to bounce back from last year’s Panthic crisis.
Vancouver-resident Ripudaman Singh Malik, who faced a long trial in the 1985 Air India bombing case and was acquitted by the Canadian court, is reported to be major beneficiary, as nine members of his family and he have been taken off the black list. “I am yet to get formal communication on the blacklist clearance. I want to visit Punjab and the Golden Temple,” Malik told Hindustan Times over telephone.
THOSE WHO FLED COUNTRY DURING MILITANCY GET CLEARANCE FOR RETURN, NAMES NOT DISCLOSED YET