NRIs actively campaigning for their supporters

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 15

Non-Residents of India (NRIs) have been actively participating in polling. A number of NRIs from Canada and European countries has arrived in the city or planning to come to their home constituencies to support their candidates. It is for the first time, when people are coming to campaign for candidates.

Inderjeet Singh, a businessman from Toronto, came to the city to take part in campaigning for the Aam Aadmi Party candidate.

He said: “I am the supporter of AAP as the state needs a change. The candidate of AAP is from a humble background. Some of my friends from Canada are also coming to join the campaign. We will not leave any stone unturned.”

Hardev Singh, a citizen of the USA, wanted to make people aware about their voting rights.

“The right of vote is a major weapon in democracy for the change. I have been living in California since 1997. Punjab have same resources but we are far behind only due to the corrupt political system. We want the same system here. Now, the state has an alternative. Hence, we are here to make the most of the opportunity.”

NRI truck drivers in Dubai and other Arab countries are also campaigning for political leaders in villages.

While speaking at a political rally, Bobby Mann, a Canadian citizen, said: “We left our comforts for the betterment of the state. The NRI community was disturbed due to desecration incidents and the drug menace in Punjab. We want our state prosperous and happy.”

The NRIs are not only paying physically visits, but also had been making phone calls to their relatives to cast vote for change.

Nimrat Kaur, a local resident, said: “I don’t have any interest in my politics. But my cousin brother who resides in the UK called me and asked to vote for his favourite candidate.”