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India flashes black list in the
face of two-year-old, his homemaker mother
WSN Network
 Various Sikhs
and Human Rights organizations including Sikh Students Federation,
SAD (Panch Pardhani), Dal Khalsa, Khalsa Action Committee, Sikhs for
Human Rights, Khalra Mission Organization and New Zealand Supreme
Sikh Council, have severely criticized Indian authorities for denial
of entry to Sikh women Shubhneet Kaur, a New Zealand citizen from
Manukau, and her year’s old son Bachint Vir Singh.
NZSSC
representative S. Daljeet Singh who is currently in India informed
that Shabneet Kaur, who migrated to NZ about a decade ago, had
visited India earlier also since her migration. “Both, the mother
and the son returned to New Zealand after spending allowed period
here in
India in
February, 2008. But this time they are denied entry on their arrival
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. ” he added.
It is notable
that Shubneed had secured the visa required for the purpose, for
herself and her son, from NZ based Indian Embassy. The authorities
at New Delhi Airport questioned Shubneet and her son and informed
their names appear in black list of Sikhs who cannot enter India.
“When the matter
came to my knowledge, I contacted many leaders and authorities in
India and NZ, but of no avail as they were sent back to NZ by Indian
authorities within hours of their landing,” said Daljeet Singh.
“This is against
natural justice and equity as the black listed persons are not even
informed for what reason and on what grounds they are black listed?”
said SSF President Paramjeet Singh Gazi and Advocate Lakhwinder
Singh, Executive Committee Member SFHR.
“Last year too,
Lakwinder Singh, a citizen of
Canada
who had visited Punjab for several times in years before 2009 was
not allowed to board at Rajasansi and was forced to returned to
Canada. That time too authorities denied extending any information
except that this Lakhwinder’s name is in black list.” Gazi added.
Bhai Harpal
Singh Cheema of Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) accused the Indian state
of discriminating against Sikhs as there could not be any logic in
black listing any child below seven years. “It amounts to
incriminating an infant who is legally incapable of holding means
required for constituting any guilt, under Indian Law.” added Bibi
Khalra, a Human Rights activist.
When the pair
arrived back in Auckland three days after their Monday evening
departure, they faced a Customs interrogation about why they were on
India's list of possible terrorists. "My wife and baby boy were
treated like criminals," said Ranvir Lali Singh, a builder, justice
of the peace and secretary of the Auckland Sikh Society.
"My son is just
a 2-year-old baby and my wife is a housewife. It is so ridiculous to
even suggest they can be terrorists or pose a threat to India's
security."
In Auckland, Mrs
Kaur was repeatedly questioned by several people about why she and
her son were denied admission into India, and every item of her
luggage was searched. Despite pleas from Mr Singh from the arrivals
lounge for the toddler to be released to him, the boy was kept with
his mother throughout her ordeal. Mrs Kaur walked out of the
Auckland
Airport arrivals hall in tears and was too distraught to speak when
approached by the local media.
The 35-year-old
has lived in New Zealand for 12 years and has been a citizen since
2003. Bachint was born in New Zealand in August 2007.
Their trip to
India was meant to be a one-month holiday during which they were to
attend a relative's wedding and visit the little boy's sick
grandmother.
"They have done
absolutely nothing wrong, and how they have been treated is inhumane
and unfair. This will not be the end of it," Mr Singh said.
Mr Singh said he
would lodge a formal complaint with the high commission and ask
Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman Chris Carter, a former
Minister of Ethnic Affairs, to raise the issue at a diplomatic
level.
Mr Carter, who
knows Mr Singh and Mrs Kaur, said he would be asking the Indian High
Commissioner for answers.
20
January 2010
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