Hoshiarpur, January 25
Flush with dollars, they have flocked to their roots up Punjab from their foreign abodes to become players in the state’s power structure. While a few of them are directly trying their luck in the Assembly elections, others are here to help their near and dear ones in the fray.
In fact, there are confirmed reports that certain Punjabi NRIs are dictating terms to even major political parties to secure ticket for their close relations or candidates of their choice for the Assembly elections.
Obviously, the NRIs have become so powerful that they have started influencing the political process here.
The maximum concentration of NRI candidates is in the Hoshiarpur belt, the area from where a large number of Punjabis have immigrated to the USA, UK, Canada and other countries. Mr Didar Singh Bains, a peach king in the USA belongs to this area. He has been camping here for the past one week to broker peace between the Badal and Tohra camps, obviously to improve SAD’s election prospects. But he failed to do so. In fact, he has been directly influencing the state’s politics while living in the USA.
Mr Beant Singh Dhaliwal, another NRI, who is president of the youth wing of Akali Dal in Canada is also here. Manshahias has come from abroad to help Capt Amarinder Singh in his party’s campaign.
The Panthic Morcha’s candidate from Garhshankar, Mr Narinder Singh Hundal, had lived in the USA for several years. He was president of the American unit of SAD (Badal) there. He is reportedly close to Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. The Panthic Morcha’s candidate from Hoshiarpur, Mr Barinder Singh Bains, has also lived in the USA for several years.
The Congress candidate from Kila Raipur, Ms Gurdial Kaur Khangura, has been staying in London since the 1960s along with her husband, Mr Jagpal Singh Khangura, a hotelier. She came here recently for the elections. The family owns a five-star hotel in Ludhiana and has now stepped into the field of politics to become an active player in Punjab’s power structure.
Mr Rattan Singh Sidhu, who lived in Canada, is in the fray as an independent candidate from Tarn Taran.
Mr Bhagwan Singh Badana, NRI from England, had vied for the Congress ticket from Sham Churasi. He failed, but now he has been collaborating with other estranged Congress leaders to “teach a lesson “to the official candidates of the party.
The NRIs are virtually dictating terms to political parties to get ticket for their kith and kin. Take the case of Mr Surjit Singh Rakhra, SAD, candidate from Samana. He is Mr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal’s brother, who is one of the few rich Sikhs settled in the USA, and patronises all sort of influential politicians, especially Akalis and bureaucrats, when they go to that country.
As Mr Dhaliwal obliges Punjab’s politicians and bureaucrats in the USA, they pay him back by looking after his political and other interests.
From the Tanda constituency, the Congress has fielded, Mr Sangat Singh Khiljia. His brother, Mr Mohinder Singh, is said to be a very influential NRI. When a Congress delegation led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi visited the USA recently, it is stated that Mr Mohinder Singh reportedly played a crucial role to make their visit comfortable. A few months in advance, Mr Sangat Singh, was aware of the fact that he would get the ticket from Tanda. He replaced Mrs Surjit Kaur Kalkat, who contested in 1997 and lost.
The entire family of the Lok Bhalai Party’s head, Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, including his son, brothers, daughter and parents are in Canada. They extend him full financial help to run his political activities back in Punjab and also in Delhi. Actually, a large number of NRIs have been campaigning along with Mr Ramoowalia in the Assembly elections in the state.
Among those who have come from the UK to campaign for Mr Ramoowalia’s party are Mr Sukhwinder Singh Gill, Mr Jaswant Singh Jagpal, Mr Paramjit Singh Halwara while those from Canada are Mr Manjit Singh Kot Karwa and Mr Makhan Singh Brar. Mr Ramoowalia says that several others are on the way to Punjab from these countries to help him in the elections.
“Bapu chakde phatte is wari”. This is what two NRI sons have told their father, Mr Kirpal Singh Khirnia, official candidate of SAD from Samrala. Last time he had lost to Mr Amrik Singh Dhillon, Congress candidate and a big name in state’s liquor trade.
Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Capt Kanwaljit Singh, both senior leaders, also have the backing of several NRIs.
