Punjab MLA Dazzles NRIs,

Los Angeles, Jan 08, 2009
Baljeet Sahi

Mission Hills, CA – A visiting Congress Party member of the Punjab's Legislative Assembly from Halqa Quila Raipur, Jassi Khangura, addressed Southern California's non-resident Indians at a banquet hosted by Gary Grewal. Speaking to the locals who have deep roots in Punjab, he, requested them to take notice of the Punjab Government's wasteful spending and false promises. Informing the NRIs, of his initiatives - Macro Dairy Ventures, and reduction in rural unemployment, infanticide and feticide, he suggested that they must involve themselves at all levels of Punjab's development.
India's emerging economy and presumed world power status, in recent years, has attracted several Indian law makers to the US with a large population of NRIs. The elected officials canvass the Indians in Diaspora for supporting their political party's agendas and pitch their views regarding 'investing' in India.

Khangura being Punjab's first NRI MLA with an enormous vision, having spent greater part of his life in Great Britain, has been able to persuade his constituents to look outside the box of old politics. His passionate stance for the issues concerning NRIs, ranging from land disputes to their asset protection and matrimonial related deceptions have projected him as a sliver of change in Indian politics. Contrary to his believes, according to him, the current government of Punjab headed by Prakash Singh Badal has concluded that there is no point helping the NRIs because they do not have the right to vote. Pointing to the banner behind him which read "Justice for NRIs" and "Real NRI Conference" he said, "I would like to introduce a Bill" to help resolve many issues facing the NRIs.

The general consensus of the people attending the function was reflective in their upbeat mannerism. They were full of praises for Khangura's relentless pursuit for developing his constituency and desire to help the poor in the State of Punjab. Only time will tell whether the raggedy old political ship of Punjab with dwindling Sikh population and increasing Punjabiata, enforced with communal bolts, will be able to sustain commandeering of its helm by a NRI MLA of the Congress Party.