The Government of Punjab, led by NRI affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, has announced a comprehensive plan to provide legal aid to approximately 700 Punjabi students facing deportation from Canada. This assistance will be provided by immigration law experts and is part of a broader initiative to safeguard the rights and interests of Non-Resident Punjabis (NRPs). The majority of the students set for deportation are originally from Punjab and were allegedly victims of a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by Brijesh Mishra, who is currently absconding. The students were admitted to Humber College, Ontario, using fake certificates. When they arrived in Canada, however, their names were not listed in the college’s records. They managed to complete their studies by securing admission in other institutions, but when they applied for Permanent Residency (PR), investigations revealed that their documents were forged. This grave issue has attracted attention from Canadian authorities, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognizing the need to identify and penalise the perpetrators, while ensuring minimal disruption to the students. His comments came in response to concerns raised by Jagjit Singh, an Indian-origin NDP leader. Meanwhile, Punjab’s NRI Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has been in direct communication with the affected students, using video calls to understand their situation better. He also met with Advocate General of Punjab, Vinod Ghai, to discuss potential legal avenues to help these students. To address this and similar issues, Dhaliwal has directed Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to scrutinise the documentation of travel and immigration agencies by July 10, voicing concerns over illegal immigration agencies and travel agents facilitating human trafficking. A statewide campaign against such fraudulent entities will be launched soon to ensure a more transparent and clean system. Furthermore, NRI meetings will be held at district levels from July 15 to August 30, primarily in villages that have produced notable international or national figures. Dhaliwal has invited all NRPs to bring forth their grievances during these meetings, promising immediate resolution whenever possible. In an effort to provide further relief, Dhaliwal has ordered the settlement of all unresolved complaints by June 30. Out of 609 complaints received during the first NRI meeting, 522 have been addressed, with 87 still pending. In a bid to streamline NRI affairs, the government is also planning to introduce a new NRI policy by September 30, tackling various problems faced by NRPs. Additionally, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will soon launch a new, more user-friendly website for the NRI department.
