AMRITSAR: Canada's Punjabi Diaspora community is pushing to start Air India flights from Amritsar to Canada. About three dozen Sabha Societies, Gurdwara and Temple Committees of Canada's Overseas Sikh and Hindu communities have appealed to Mr. Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of the National Minorities Commission of the Government of India.
With the initiative of Canada's media personality and social worker Prof. Kulwinder Singh Chhina, the demands and resolutions related to the said concerns were submitted to Mr. Lalpura by Prof. Sarchand Singh, Adviser of the Minority Commission and for the commencement of Air India flights from Amritsar to Canada. They were strongly appealed to advocate and take appropriate action. BJP leader Jagdeep Singh Nakai was also present on this occasion. The diaspora Punjabi community has recently welcomed the decision of Italian Neos Airlines to start a one-day weekly flight from Amritsar to Canada, and the Government of India to soon launch Air India international flights from Amritsar International Airport to Toronto and Vancouver, Canada.
Regarding this, Mr. Iqbal Singh Lalpura said that the concerns of the diaspora Punjabi community are being taken care of. He said that he has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia regarding this long-standing demand of the entire Punjabi community, which is being considered at the highest level. He has assured that very soon meaningful results will be revealed.
Among the sabha societies of the Diaspora Punjabi community who have sent letter in this regard are Sikh Spiritual Center Toronto, Hindu Sabha Brampton Ontario, Vedic Hindu Cultural Society BC, Mata Gujri Ji Sikh Temple East Grafraxa Ontario, Nanaksar Satsang Sabha Ontario, Sadh Sangat Board Nanaksar Society Inc. Brampton, Sanj Punjab Radio TV Inc.
Brampton, Khalsa Dewan Society Gurdwara Vancouver BC, Akali Singh Sikh Society Vancouver, Khalsa Dewan Society Abbotsford, Gurdwara Sahib Brookside Surrey, Sri Guru Ravidas Sabha Burnaby, Gurdwara Nanak Niwas Richmond, Khalsa Dewan Society York Center Surrey, Bear Creek Hall Gurdwara Surrey, Guru Gobind Singh Temple Prince George, Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Mackenzie Williams Lake, Caribou Gursikh Temple, Quesnel, Vancouver Island Sikh Cultural Society Sherman Road Duncan, Okanagan Sikh Temple Rutland Rd. Kelowna, Mission Sikh Temple Rai Avenue Mission, Gurdwara Sahib-Miri-Piri Khalsa Darbar Walsh Avenue Terrace, Khalsa Dewan Society Sikh Temple Topaz Avenue Victoria, Khalsa Dewan Society Nanaimo, Guru Nanak Sikh Society Pinecrest Rd. Campbell River, Sikh Temple Squamish, Sikh Cultural Society Cambridge Kare St. Kamloops, Merit Sikh Temple Chapman Street Merit, Alberni Valley Gurdwara Society Montrose Street Port Alberni, Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Surrey and Ontario Sikh and Gurdwara Council Ontario etc.
Meanwhile, Prof. Kulwinder Singh Chhina and Prof. Sarchand Singh said in a joint statement, He strongly criticized the Punjab government for not taking appropriate action with the central government for this purpose. He also expressed regret over the exclusion of Punjab from the Air Transport Agreement signed by the Government of Canada with India and said that Canadian Punjabi MPs have not lived up to the expectations of the diaspora Punjabi community. He said that most passengers come from Punjab in Air India and Air Canada flights operated from Delhi. Due to non-availability of direct flights between Canada and Punjab, passengers are exposed to road accidents in addition to additional money, time and great inconvenience.
He said that Amritsar is an important city in terms of religious and heritage, Sri Darbar Sahib, Jallianwala Bagh, Sri Ram Tirth, The Tapo Bhoomi of Maharishi Balmik Ji and parades on the international border of Wahge are the center of attraction not only for Punjabis but also for tourists from the world. . He said that due to the daily arrival of about one and a half to two lakh tourists in Amritsar, tourism and economy is getting a boost. He said that the decision to start direct flights to Amritsar and Canada will see a unique change in the attitude towards India among the Punjabis living abroad and the Sikh community. Along with this, Prof. Sarchand Singh also advocated for increasing the traffic of cargo flights from Amritsar Airport.
He said that the agricultural industry will be strengthened with the increase in cargo flights. The farmers of Punjab and especially the border areas will benefit. Farmers will be able to sell fruits and vegetables abroad including Dubai Singapore.