India reviewing blacklist of Sikhs abroad
By IANSMonday, June 28, 2010
TORONTO - India is reviewing the lists of Sikhs abroad who were blacklisted for their anti-Indian activities, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said Sunday.
Interacting with the media after the G-20 summit here, she said: “The matter is under consideration of the government. We are aware of the issues raised by some people.”
“The ministry of external affairs has taken up the issue with the ministry of home affairs and the whole case is under review.”
Rao added that the government has also begun a series of meetings “to look at the whole issue in depth”.
“I am hopeful that we will have an outcome before long to meet some of the issues raised by these people.”
Canada has the largest number of hardliners who were blacklisted by New Delhi for their anti-Indian activities. Most of these people had taken asylum in Canada besides other western countries during the peak of militancy in Punjab in the 1980s.
Canadian Sikhs have made repeated representations to the India government to review these so-called blacklists to enable them visit their families in India.
