North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expresses deep concern and disappointment over the Punjab government’s decision to assign the important NRI Affairs department to newly-inducted cabinet minister Mr. Sanjeev Arora. While we respect the democratic prerogative of the government to reshuffle or expand the cabinet, such a critical portfolio that directly affects the lives and concerns of millions of Non-Resident Punjabis (NRPs) deserves far more thoughtful consideration.
It is well known that Mr. Arora, despite being a successful businessman, has neither any prior engagement with the Punjabi diaspora nor any significant understanding of the long-standing and complex issues faced by NRIs from Punjab. These include property disputes, legal harassment, fraudulent land grabs, lack of coordination with the Punjab Police, visa and registration hassles, as well as emotional and cultural disconnect with the homeland. To assume that someone entirely new to these matters will be able to grasp their depth and act effectively is not only unrealistic but also deeply irresponsible.
If Mr. Arora chooses to genuinely learn and engage with the community, it would still take at least eight to nine months for him to develop even a basic understanding of the diaspora’s concerns. By that time, the noise and politics of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections will have started echoing in every street and household. In such a political climate, no meaningful solutions can be expected, and the voices of the diaspora will once again be drowned in the din of vote-bank politics.
The question naturally arises—how can we, as concerned stakeholders of Punjab’s global community, expect Mr. Arora to resolve our issues swiftly and sensitively when he is just beginning to learn about them? The diaspora needs a minister who comes with lived experience, grassroots familiarity, and a proven track record of dealing with overseas Punjabis—not a novice navigating an unfamiliar portfolio.