Billionaire Darshan Singh Dhaliwal: From denial of entry to India to award by India

On January 2, the Ministry of External Affairs introduced the names of 27 abroad Indians for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) – 2023. United States-based billionaire, Dr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal’s title was on the listing. It is attention-grabbing to notice that simply two years in the past, Dhaliwal was not allowed to enter India, when he was supporting the farmer protests ongoing at the moment.

Darshan Singh Dhaliwal was denied entry into India on the intervening evening of October 23-24, 2021. After questioning for a number of hours on the Indira Gandhi International Airport, he was requested to return to the US. Reportedly, Dhaliwal had organised a group kitchen for the farmers throughout protests in opposition to the now-repealed farm legal guidelines.

Dhaliwal, who’s within the gasoline enterprise within the United States, will get facilitated with the award through the seventeenth Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) Convocation scheduled for January 8 to January 10, 2023, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Darshan Singh Dhaliwal is likely one of the largest gasoline retailers within the United States. By 2004, he owned over 1,000 gasoline stations in 11 states and had annual gross sales of $2 billion (Rs 9,000 crore), which was 5 instances the scale of Punjab’s yearly funds. In 1999, Dhaliwal entered into Punjab’s electoral politics by operating his youthful brother Surjit Singh Rakhra on a SAD ticket within the Lok Sabha elections.

During farmer protests, Dhaliwal was considered one of many abroad Indians who confronted motion for supporting anti-India protests. At that point, Dhaliwal had alleged, “When I asked why I was being denied permission to enter India, the immigration officials asked the same questions that they had been asking earlier too – why I organised the langar at Singhu border and who is paying for it. They said I should stop funding this langar if I wanted to enter India.”

As per a Hindustan Times report, Dhaliwal stated that he’s shocked to be taught that he has been picked for the award. “It has come as a shock for me. In fact, this is the second shock given to me by the Indian government within two years. This time, I am pretty glad that the Indian government has recognised my work for the Indian diaspora in the US,” he stated.

He added, “Apart from doing my business, I do my bit in giving back to society. I help Indians to study, work and do business in the US. It is an honour that my work has been recognised in the country of my birth. My family and friends in the US will also accompany me to Indore,” he added.

As per Jagran’s report, Dhaliwal stated he was not a part of the farmer protests in opposition to the farm legal guidelines. The goal of the group kitchen was to offer meals to the protesters. He praised PM Modi and stated, “He has done much for the country. He has done much work for the Sikh community, and I wish he continues his work.”

Govt of India’s motion in opposition to PIOs and OCIs for his or her position in anti-India protests

Dhaliwal was not the one one who confronted the motion throughout farmer protests. The ministry of exterior affairs has cancelled the long-term visas of about 12 PIOs in Canada and Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders who’ve been immediately or not directly attempting to create chaos within the nation by propagating false propaganda in opposition to India.

“Many Indians, including students, used offensive language against India during the protests that are in our notice. A dozen such individuals have been blacklisted and will be repatriated from the Indian airports upon arrival,” stated sources aware about the case.

As a part of the crackdown in opposition to these people endorsing violence within the title of supporting ‘farmer’ protests, in addition to Dhaliwal, a Spain-based businessman Amrik Singh was flown again on his arrival at Delhi airport on October 21.

Amrik Singh, whereas talking to TOI, stated he had been supporting the farmer’s protest from the beginning. He stated that he has additionally participated in protests in help of farmers in Spain. Singh, nevertheless, claimed that he didn’t help any exercise which may very well be known as anti-India.

About Pravasi Bhartiya Samman

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the best honour for abroad Indians. The President of India confers it as a part of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual conference to recognise achievements by members of the Indian diaspora. A jury-cum-awards committee, with the Vice President of India as Chairman and External Affairs Minister as vice chairman and different distinguished members from varied walks of life, thought of nominations for PBSA awards in 2023 and unanimously chosen the awardees.