Badal does not care for NRIs because most do not have a vote in Punjab - 06/01/2009

BADAL DOES NOT CARE FOR NRIs BECAUSE MOST DO NOT HAVE A VOTE IN PUNJAB

As part of the “JUSTICE OR NRIs” campaign, which was launched at “The Real NRI Conference” in Chandigarh on 26 December 2008, Jassi Khangura was welcomed by a huge gathering of NRIs at the Ararat Banquet Hall in Mission Hills, Los Angeles.

This campaign had already received a massive response with wide acclaim. The LA function was attended by 500+ NRIs and was addressed by:

Bhupinder Sidhu – Entrepreneur from Toronto

Lahori Ram – Economic Development Commissioner for the State of California

Dr A S Marwaha – he senior stateman for the Congress Party in the USA

Harry Sidhu – Councilman Anaheim, CA, USA

Gurmant Grewal – former MP, Newton North Delta, BC

Jassi was personally introduced to the gathering by Parlad Singh Grewal who hails from Narangwal village, which is in Qila Raipur Constituency and from where hailed Justice Gurnam Singh, former CM Punjab.

In his address Jassi included:

We cannot waste 3 years waiting for the next Punjab government to address NRI concerns. We must lobby now for change. The Justice for NRIs campaign is not for the short-term. It will continue until there is effective resolution of the issues in Punjab has hurt NRIs the most.

CM Punjab might have started his 4th term with sincere intentions towards NRIs, but his failure to honour the commitments to NRIs made at the Government samellan in Jalandhar last January and the failure of Sukbir Badal, Bikram Majitha and the CM himself to attend the Punjanb NRI Sabha function at Jalandhar, are all clear indications that neither he nor his government really care for NRIs today. Whilst the NRI invariably does not have a vote in Punjab, the local party does. Siding with the NRI will result in loss of local votes, something that Mr P S Badal dare not risk in a faltering government that is soon to face the wrath of the public in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

Jassi reinforced that he will not relent until Justice for NRIs is delivered.

Prominent in the gathering were Paul Sahota, Congress leader and businessman from Fresno, Atma Singh Grewal who hails from Qila Raipur village and Mukhtiar Kamboj, Chairman Sikh Gurdwara of Los Angeles.

The function was hosted by Gary Grewal, Rattan Joe, Jagdish Khangura and Mani Sidhu, all succesfl businessman from LA.

Jassi Khangura MLA, Los Angeles, 05 January 2008