GOI abolishes PIO black list

Vancouver, April 28, 2019: The Government of India has asked its foreign missions to do away with black lists maintained by them of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who were reportedly denied Indian visas and other consular services.

The decision will pave way for the asylum seekers and their immediate family members, who are not on the Indian Home Ministry approved central black list, to avail consular services, including visa and Overseas Citizenship of India services.

Many prospective beneficiaries will be the persons hailing from Punjab who had taken asylum in countries like Canada and the US, citing fear of religious persecution back home during the crackdown on pro-Khalistan movement, added the report.

Although the decision in this regard was taken in February 2019 but the specific guidelines have been issued recently , said sources .Refugees are not covered in the category to befitted from this initiative.

Welcoming the step, the US-based Sukhi Chahal, chairman, Punjab Foundation said that he was personally grateful to Government of India, Ministry of Home, Ministry of external affairs for compassionate decision which reflect the recognition that many of the asylum-seekers especially from among the Sikhs from Punjab.

“I had been personally working on this very sensitive issues with Govt of India, Indian Embassy and Indian consulate General offices in USA,” said Chahal adding that such asylum-seekers were the economic migrants who were forced to pass themselves off as victims of political persecution in order to escape the bleak economic conditions facing them back home in Punjab.

These persons on the local black lists maintained by the respective Indian missions abroad had been facing problems in getting visa and OCI benefits.