Says, "End of 10 year visa facility to become big hassle for Indian tourists, will affect Punjab the most"
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra today held BJP leadership responsible for rising acrimony between India and Canada, harming the interests of millions of NRI and students mainly from Punjab. He described it a big diplomatic failure of India.
He said that hostility between two governments had shattered the dreams of youth who wanted to migrate to Canada for better prospects and higher studies. He said that after Australis, UK and New Zealand, it is Canada which tightened the immigration rules to block entry of Indians aspirants.
Mohindra said that in series of announcements, Canada has drastically reduced the quota of permanent residents, intake of students and other immigrants, restricted student visas, cancelled work permits of over one lakh Indian students mainly from Punjab. He said that it was unfortunate that Indian government has not yet taken up with Canada government the issue of about 1.25 lakh students who are facing deportation after their work permits are not renewed.
PYC president said recently the Canada government had discontinued 10-year visa system widely used by family members of immigrants. In a way Canada has restricted the entry of Indian citizens. He said, "End of 10 year visa facility became create big hassle for Indian tourists, will affect Punjab the most." He further stated that over 5 lakh Indians live in Canada and large number of temporary visitors and businessmen travel there throughout the year. He said that families of Indians who wanted to visit their kin would bear the brunt of Canada government's decision taken due to hostile statements by BJP leaders.
He said that Indian mission in Canada has further complicated the things by cancelling scheduled Pension camps organised for the Indian Pensioners to issue life certificates. He said that majority of pensioners were from Punjab, living with their children and not able to visit India for various health of financial reasons. He demanded to resume camps to issue life certificates.
Mohidnra said that Indian youth was going abroad due to unemployment in the home country and trying their fortune abroad. He said that Canada was only country where liberal immigration policy was helping the Indian youth to settle permanently. He stated that huge number of youths mainly from Punjab and Gujarat had migrated to Canada and they are contributing largely to the economy of India by way of investment and supporting families.
He added BJP was habitual in issuing provocative statements and create social conflict between communities. He said that incidents of violence by certain radical groups outside Hindu Sabha temple Brampton in Canada was highly condemnable, but BJP used the incident as an opportunity to play divisive politics. He alleged that BJP exploited communal feelings to polarise the society and reap political benefits in Punjab.
Mohindra urged the Prime Minister Narender Modi to show statesmanship and open diplomatic channels with Canada to save the future of youth and reputation of our country at international level. He added that enmity with Canada might affect India's relations with G7 countries.