'Abolish black and suspect lists'

JALANDHAR, DEC. 26. The Premier of British Columbia State of Canada, Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh, today asked the Indian Government to abolish the ``black and suspect lists'' of non-resident Indians as they deterred the NRIs from getting visas to visit their motherland.

Mr. Dosanjh said he had received several submissions from the NRIs in Canada saying they had been denied visas many times in the past two decades as their names figured in the lists prepared by the Indian Intelligence agencies.

``I have taken up the matter with the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, who assured me that both the lists are being reviewed and names of those NRIs involved in minor offences will be deleted from the lists soon,'' the Premier told reporters here.

He had also held discussions with the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, who had assured him of a positive response.

``Though the NRIs have contributed a lot for the development of Canada and attained a status in the multi-cultural Canadian society, it is a matter of great concern that they are being denied permission to visit their homeland on the pretext that their names figure in the lists,'' Mr. Dosanjh said.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Thackeray's views unconstitutional: Singhvi
Next     : Role of media in conflict resolution