In support of Congress Party in the forthcoming Assembly Elections NRIs of Punjabi Origin took part in “Chalo Punjab: NRIs for Congress”, today. As part of the campaign, which is the brainchild of Shri Inder Dev Singh Musafir, Chairman of the NRI Cell – Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, they travelled to Chandigarh in specially bedecked buses from Delhi.
These buses were received by Capt. Amarinder Singh (President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee) in the evening at Punjab Congress Bhawan in Sector 15A, Chandigarh after it was flagged off from AICC Headquarters at 24, Akbar Road by Dr. Karan Singh (Chairman, Foreign Affairs Department, AICC) in the morning.
Shri Inder Dev Singh Musafir, Chairman of NRI Cell - Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said “A Campaign “Chalo Punjab: NRIs for Congress” had recently been launched by Captain Amarinder Singh. As part of this ongoing initiative, and in order to express their explicit support to the Congress Party in the Assembly Elections, a Cavalcade of Specially Decorated Buses with the NRIs on board, reached Chandigarh from New Delhi, today.”
He further added, “It has been due to the changes incorporated by the UPA Government to Representation of Peoples Act that NRIs today are allowed to participate in the election process. These NRIs now will repay the Congress Party by campaigning in its favour and towards the victory of the local candidates in their respective constituencies.”
There is a very large NRI Diaspora belonging to Punjab settled in various Countries across the Globe. The NRI Cell of the Punjab Pradesh Congress has been mobilizing a large number of NRIs to come to India and support the Congress Party in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly Elections.
The Vision of the NRI Cell (PPCC) is to connect the NRI Diaspora of Punjab to the Secular Values of the Congress Party, and the Short Term Mission is to work for the Victory of the Congress Party in the forthcoming Assembly Elections.
Mr. Musafir informed that the Cavalcade was welcomed in Haryana by Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Chief Minister of Haryana). And apart from Captain Amarinder Singh, on arrival in Chandigarh / Punjab the “Chalo Punjab NRIs for Congress” cavalcade was received by Smt. Ambika Soni (Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting) and several other Congress Leaders of the Center and Punjab.
Its widely believed that the support of the NRIs for the Congress party in the current Assembly Elections of Punjab will play a major role in impacting the result of a large number of Constituencies.
Shri Inder Dev Singh Musafir has been putting forward the issues that the NRIs have been bringing up for discussions with the Congress leadership of Punjab. Theses include, Legal disputes connected to Property and Marriages. Captain Amarinder Singh has assured the NRI Diaspora of Punjab, that once the Congress Party comes into power, it will work towards setting up of Fast Track Courts for early resolution of such disputes, especially in relation to the NRIs.
The NRIs on their part have expressed their strong desire to bring-in investments into setting up Industry, Healthcare Centers and Educational Institutions, to increase employment and growth opportunities for the state of Punjab. For this the Congress party through its Manifesto has announced a system of single window clearance and self certification for all projects that the NRIs desire to be part of.
If that was not all, the NRI Diaspora has expressed their willingness in taking part in projects of Social Responsibility with wide ranging benefits for the local citizens. The NRIs have expressed their desire to participate in development programs in their native villages and beyond. Their particular interests are in projects such as, Water Supply Including Overhead Tanks; Underground Sewerage System in Villages; Sewage Treatment; Solar / Alternate Energy Generation Projects; Public Toilets; & Rain Water Harvesting and Tree Plantation.
The Congress Party through its Manifesto has announced a special scheme for the NRIs wherein, if the NRI desire’s to make a donation for any village development project, the Congress Government will match an equivalent amount by way of grant for that project, which will immensely motivate the NRI diaspora to do so.
Mr. Inder Dev Singh Musafir added that to mobilize these NRIs from USA, UK, Italy, Canada, Germany etc. the NRI Cell of the PPCC through its various representatives across the world, has been organizing a series of meetings supported by Audio-Visual messages of Captain Amarinder Singh, Dr Karan Singh and other Senior leaders. These messages were regarding the benefits that the Congress Party will extend to the Citizens of the State, and especially to the NRIs.
Shri Inder Dev Singh Musafir further reiterated that he is confident that the next government in Punjab will be formed by the Congress Party.