Duped Indian students’ Canada dream in limbo

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Duped Indian students’ Canada dream in limbo

Friday, 09 June 2023 | PNS | New Delhi

Duped Indian students’ Canada dream in limbo

The Indian Government is taking steps to  address the predicament of over 700 Indian students, primarily from Punjab, who are facing the possibility of deportation from Canada. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday assured that his  Ministry and the Indian High Commission are actively engaged in finding a resolution to this pressing issue.

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday said the State Government will provide free legal assistance to Indian students who are facing deportation from Canada.

Besides, Dhaliwal has also written to all MPs of Punjab origin in Canada to solve the issue of these students so that the future of the children can be secured.

The matter has also reached the Canadian Parliament, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his focus on identifying the culprits responsible for the fraudulent admission letters, rather than penalising the victims.

Trudeau emphasised that the affected students would have an opportunity to present evidence to support their case, acknowledging the significant contributions made by international students to Canada.

The predicament unfolded when Canadian authorities discovered that the admission offer letters provided to these students for Canadian educational institutions were fake. This revelation came to light in March when the students applied for permanent residency in Canada, leading to the current situation.

In response to appeals from Dhaliwal and the students themselves, Jaishankar highlighted the Ministry’s active involvement in pursuing a fair resolution. He stated that the Canadian authorities recognise the unfairness of penalising innocent students and are committed to finding a solution. Jaishankar commended the fairness of the Canadian system in dealing with the matter.

Dhaliwal, in his letter to Jaishankar, emphasised the students’ innocence and requested personal intervention in the matter.

He urged the External Affairs Minister to engage with the High Commission of Canada and the Canadian Government to prevent the deportation of the students. Dhaliwal proposed granting work permits to the students, considering their valid visas.

He also urged citizens of Punjab to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of colleges and travel agents before making plans to study abroad.

Scores of Indian students in Canada have taken to the streets in protest against the possibility of deportation.

These students claim that they were unaware of the fraudulent nature of their admission letters when they arrived in Canada several years ago. The revelation of the fraudulent letters only occurred when they applied for permanent residency, leaving them vulnerable to deportation.

The mental health of the affected students has significantly deteriorated, with some even expressing thoughts of suicide. Lovepreet Singh, a protesting student, stressed the need for the Indian Government to raise the issue with the Canadian Government, highlighting the innocence of the students who fell victim to the scam.

The issue has gained attention in the Canadian Parliament as well, with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to halt the deportation of these students.

In response, Trudeau reiterated the government’s commitment to identifying the culprits behind the fraud and stated that the victims would be given an opportunity to present their case.

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