AAP gets thunderous response in USA; NRIs want certain burning issues included in party manifesto

Authored by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Spokesperson, AAP
As you are aware, I have just concluded my 20 day whirlwind party tour of USA, to woo the NRI fraternity in favour of AAP.
During this tour which began from California on 15th April AAP got a thunderous response, besides NRIs giving a tumultuous welcome to an ordinary ex-MLA like me. The overseas AAP team had organized over two dozen meetings in 18 different cities of America. We covered the vastly Punjabi dominated cities of Fresno, Tracy, LA etc. in California, besides visiting Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Chicago and finally concluding the visit in New York.
I can say with authority that 90 % NRIs are inclined to support AAP in 2017, as they are fed up with the corrupt and hollow traditional parties like SAD, Congress and the BJP. They are looking for a corruption free and drug free Punjab and are deeply concerned with the pitiable plight of farmers in the state.
It is pertinent to mention here, that while I campaigned single handedly throughout America, Capt. Amarinder Singh who is camping with more than two dozen cronies of his is facing extreme humiliation and protests in many cities and his tour has been a complete flop.
Although the NRI’s are all out for AAP but yet they want certain burning issues included in the charter of promises or the party manifesto for 2017.
The NRIs want a concrete commitment for zero tolerance to corruption and drugs. They want AAP to promise time bound commissions of inquiry against ampant corruption and drugs.
Further they want the party to commit stringent action against all those police officers, who violated human rights and killed many Sikh youth in fake encounters during the militancy era in the state.
They also want AAP to include the long pending legitimate demands of Punjab, be it the SYL river waters, left out Punjabi speaking areas, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, justice for victims of 1984 included in the manifesto, as they feel the Akali’s have turned a back to these demands.
The NRIs are much concerned about the safety of their lives and properties in Punjab, as they feel harassed and troubled by different kind of mafia in the state.
Apart from turning up in large numbers in our meetings, NRIs have contributed very liberally in terms of funds to the party for mission 2017.
After having indulged in deep interaction with a huge Punjabi population in USA, I have decided to take up all the genuine issues with party leadership and Sh. Arvind Kejriwal shortly. I would urge the party to directly involve the NRIs in the electoral process of Punjab, by allocating a few assembly seats to them and finally appointing one Minister from amongst them to independently head the NRIs Affairs ministry. As I feel that the NRIs constitute approx. 50 lac of our total population of 2.75 crore, or in other words every 6th Punjabi is an NRI across the globe. Therefore, ignoring their aspirations would be unjustified. (edited version)