Names of 142 Sikh NRIs removed from black list: Home ministry

The Centre has deleted names of 142 Sikh NRIs from the black list after a detailed review while the exercise is still continuing in 27 cases, home minister P Chidambaram said today.

The home ministry has conducted a detailed review of names of 169 Sikh NRIs included in the black list but could not get "full information" about activities of 27 individuals during last 15-20 years.

Leaving these names, the home ministry decided to remove the rest of names from the black list.

When asked about the basis of review, Chidambaram said, "because we don't have full information. Severity of allegations against one person is one aspect but we need to know what he has been doing in the last 15-20 years. We do not have full information on these 27 people that is why I added these 27 people will be reviewed. As we get fuller information we will take decision."

A statement from the home ministry said that the names of 169 Sikh NRIs, which were included in the black list, were reviewed by the ministry.

"After a detailed review, names of 142 Sikh NRIs were removed from the black list and necessary instructions were issued to the Indian Missions and Posts," it said.

The non-resident Indian Sikhs whose names were mentioned in the black list are alleged to have been routinely denied travel permission to the country on grounds that they had taken part in anti-national activities during insurgency period in Punjab.