Over the last ten years, 6,537 people have applied to the Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada for citizenship and more than half of the political asylum seekers are reported to be from Punjab
Citing political persecution in India because they support Khalistan, thousands of people from Punjab have sought asylum in Canada. Over the last ten years, 6,537 people have applied to the Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada for citizenship and more than half of the political asylum seekers are reported to be from Punjab, according to a report from indianarrative.com, Providing these figures in response to queries sent by indianarrative.com, Mylene Estrada-del Rosario, advisor to the Immigration and Refugee Board said that the refugee claims from India are mostly made based on India being a “persecuting country”. The second plea taken by the applicants is that their “political opinion” varied from that of the Indian state because of which they were hounded by the security agencies.
Rosario said, “Each case before the Immigration and Refugee Board is decided on its own merits by independent decision-makers.” The applicant is required to furnish sufficient proof in support of his claim. The Canadian authorities on their own also keep an eye on the situation prevailing in the country to which the applicant belongs.
These asylum seekers enter Canada via sea, land, or air. On reaching Canada they claim refugee status as they are allegedly being hounded by Indian agencies violating human rights.
The report quoted Punjab-origin journalist J P Pandher, now based in Toronto, who said that Indian lawyers dealing with political asylum seekers charge hefty fees to file such cases in courts. The Indian lawyer, once hired, ropes in the services of a White advocate who drafts and argues the case in the court. The fee alone could range between Rs 30 to 35 lakh per case.
Once an asylum seeker gets permission to temporarily stay in Canada till the court decides his fate, he is allowed to work and earn for himself. The litigation continues for several years during which the applicants keep working to pay the lawyers.
Sikh extremists wanted in Punjab for committing or having funded acts of violence are learnt to be in various cities of Canada as refugees and controlling key Gurdwaras. Such extremists include Hardeep Singh Nijjer, Lakhbir Landa, and Arshdeep Singh Arsh
A majority of political asylum seekers prefer Montreal in the Quebec state of Canada to file their cases. There is a belief prevalent that courts in Quebec are more sympathetic towards refugee claims. It is common knowledge that Quebec’s citizens too want to accede from mainland Canada as they feel oppressed.
A Brampton-based Punjabi lawyer said on condition of anonymity that the newspaper reports and films emanating from India showing violence against a particular community were presented before the courts to convince the judges that India persecuted them based on their religion and political beliefs.
Another lawyer said that the letter of support issued by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president and MP Simranjit Singh Mann on the party letterhead, who is a flag bearer of Khalistan, is “procured” to bolster the refugee claim of an individual. According to New Zealand-based Radio and TV host, Harnek Singh Neki, Mann charges anything between Rs 5 to 7 lakh to issue a letter to support a particular refugee claim.
Sikh extremists wanted in Punjab for committing or having funded acts of violence are learnt to be in various cities of Canada as refugees and controlling key Gurdwaras. Such extremists include Hardeep Singh Nijjer, Lakhbir Landa, and Arshdeep Singh Arsh.
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