Milpitas, California / Jalandhar, Punjab: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expresses serious reservations regarding the Punjab Government’s announcement to organise an NRI Milni at Mohali on June 24, 2026, as announced by Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Dr Ravjot Singh. While such events may appear promising on paper, experience has shown that these gatherings often generate publicity but fail to deliver meaningful, lasting solutions to the problems faced by Non-Resident Punjabis.
NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal stated that the Punjabi diaspora has attended numerous NRI meetings, conferences, and grievance redressal programs over the years. However, thousands of complaints related to illegal land possession, property disputes, forged power-of-attorney cases, delayed police investigations, and bureaucratic hurdles remain unresolved. Many NRIs have repeatedly traveled to Punjab only to find themselves trapped in lengthy legal battles despite assurances from successive governments.
Chahal said that unless the Punjab Government presents a transparent report detailing how many complaints received during previous NRI Milnis were actually resolved, the upcoming event is likely to be viewed by the diaspora as another ceremonial exercise. Accountability must precede celebration. The government should disclose the number of complaints received, resolved, pending, and rejected during earlier NRI grievance programs. Punjab has organized several NRI outreach initiatives in recent years with promises of prompt redressal of grievances.
NAPA further noted that the confidence of overseas Punjabis has been severely affected by continuing reports of property grabbing, fraudulent land transactions, and delays in obtaining justice. While governments frequently highlight investments from NRIs, they have not adequately protected the rights and assets of those same investors. Without establishing a robust and time-bound mechanism for complaint resolution, no amount of meetings, seminars, or public relations exercises will restore trust.
Chahal emphasized that the Punjab Government should focus on measurable outcomes rather than media headlines. Every complaint filed by an NRI should be assigned a tracking number, monitored through an online portal, and resolved within a fixed timeframe. Officials responsible for unnecessary delays should be held accountable. Only such structural reforms can convince the global Punjabi community that the government is serious about addressing their concerns.
“The Punjabi diaspora contributes billions of dollars to Punjab’s economy through remittances and investments. They deserve justice, transparency, and efficient governance not merely invitations to attend meetings,” Chahal said.
NAPA urges the Punjab Government to use the June 24 NRI Milni as an opportunity to announce concrete action plans, publish progress reports on previous complaints, and establish a legally enforceable grievance redressal system. Otherwise, the event risks becoming yet another symbolic gathering that offers hope but delivers little