Punjab issues helpline number for NRIs to resolve any problems they may be facing

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Monday issued a WhatsApp helpline number for NRIs. He said, "We have released a WhatsApp number - 9056009884, for complaints given online by NRIs. The main aim is to connect the NRIs with the state and resolve any problems they may be facing..."

On Indian citizens deported from the US, he said, "...I urge all Punjabjis to stop going abroad by illegal means. By doing this they put their lives in danger and it also defames us. "

On February 5, the US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US arrived in Punjab's Amritsar.


During the recent special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, ahead of Prime Minister Modi's overseas visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri responded to queries regarding the potential returnees from the US.

Being asked about the number of Indians who would be deported by US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the number of flights and returnees will depend on the number of 'confirmed people.'

"It's hard to give an exact number because we can't confirm anybody as an Indian national until we check that", Misri said.

"In recent conversations, when we have sought details about potential returnees from the United States, we have been told that there are up to 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders with the US authorities. We have sought details with regard to 298 individuals. We received this a short while ago. We are checking on this and will revert to our US counterparts on these issues. About the others we have not been provided details", he added.

Foreign Secretary also noted, "We have been very transparent on this with US counterparts."