On Thursday, S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, met with Afghan Sikh refugees in West Delhi as part of the BJP’s outreach campaign for the nine-year anniversary of the Modi government.
Image Source : The Hindu
Table of Contents
He expressed support for granting multiple entry visas to those wishing to return to Afghanistan to care for their properties and gurdwaras. During his visit to Guru Arjun Dev Gurdwara in Mahavir Nagar, West Delhi, Jaishankar, accompanied by Delhi BJP leaders including Virendra Sachdeva, the state president, took the opportunity to meet with Sikh refugees and address their concerns. In a gesture of empathy, he promised to examine the issues surrounding their citizenship status, passports, and schooling for their children.
Jaishankar, a former bureaucrat, emphasized the importance of listening to their concerns and understanding their perspectives. The refugees shared their varied concerns, including a desire to return to their ancestral properties and worries about the condition of gurdwaras in their home country.
After the visit, Jaishankar engaged with reporters, acknowledging the concerns raised by the Sikh refugees. He reiterated his commitment to addressing these issues and finding suitable solutions. By actively engaging with the community and offering reassurance, Jaishankar demonstrated his willingness to advocate for the welfare of Sikh refugees and to explore avenues to alleviate their concerns.
Talks Of Multiple Entry Visas For Refugees
According to the minister, there is a strong case for granting multiple or double, triple-entry visas to individuals who have traveled to Afghanistan and returned. Additionally, the issue of citizenship needs to be addressed, as some people have been waiting for it. The minister expressed concern about refugees who acquired Indian citizenship for the sake of their children but later faced difficulties, stating that the system should not burden them further but instead provide assistance.
When asked about opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act, the minister emphasized that the law serves a humanitarian purpose and protects those who would otherwise be left vulnerable. He stressed that this issue should not be politicized but viewed from a perspective of humanity.
Image Source : ANI
The minister acknowledged that the Afghan Sikh refugees could not be abandoned to fend for themselves in Afghanistan. He assured that the government would do everything possible to address their demands and concerns.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted that not all refugees seek an Indian passport. Some individuals wish to retain their previous passports, while others have applied for citizenship elsewhere.
Modi Government’s Nine Year Tenure
In an unrelated matter, the minister, along with former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, has been assigned by the BJP to oversee a month-long campaign across the seven Lok Sabha constituencies of Delhi. The objective of this campaign is to showcase the achievements of the Narendra Modi government during its nine-year tenure at the Centre.
During his visit to Tilak Vihar, Mr. Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, met with the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He assured them that he would address their concerns at the appropriate platform.
One of the individuals he interacted with was Ganga Kaur, whose father was a casualty of the violence. She expressed her distress over the recent notices received by the families residing in the area, commonly referred to as the Widow Colony. According to Kaur, they were informed during the allotment of the houses, more than 35 years ago, that they would not be required to make any payments. However, over the past year, they have been receiving demands from the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to pay instalments ranging from ₹5 to 7 lakh.
Atma Singh Lubana, the chairman of a committee representing the victims of the 1984 riots, corroborated these claims, mentioning that many residents have received similar notices and exorbitant power bills, despite Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s promise in 2017 to waive them.
