Expressing complete ignorance about the reasons, Dhesi briefly said it was the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Published Aug 04, 2023 | 3:27 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2023 | 3:27 AM
File photo of Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. (TanDhesi/Facebook)
British Member of Parliament Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, who openly criticised the handling of the farmer agitation and the Punjab Police crackdown on Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, was stopped by immigration officials at Amritsar airport on Thursday, 3 August.
Dhesi, who is touring India, reportedly landed at 9 am at the Sri Guru Ramdas Jee International Airport in Amritsar and was “questioned” by immigration officials about his purpose of visit for about two hours before being allowed to exit.
Expressing complete ignorance about the reasons, Dhesi briefly said it was the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Increased Khalistani activities in the UK and recent attacks and vandalisation of diplomatic buildings have brought many UK Sikh leaders under the scanner of Indian agencies.
Dhesi is a Labour politician representing Slough, and has been an MP continuously since 8 June, 2017. He currently undertakes the role of shadow minister (rail) in this country.
Though popular in the UK for raising Sikh issues in the UK Parliament and other platforms and being vocal over concerns of minorities, Dhesi came in the line of fire for raising questions on the mode of the crackdown on Khalistani radical Amritpal Singh.
Through a series of tweets, he objected to the internet blackouts, bans on gatherings, and alleged mass arrests by the Punjab Police.
Various Punjab politicians had then taken to Twitter accusing him of being a Khalistani sympathiser and their promoter in the UK.
He was, prior to this, honoured by farm unions for his massive support during their stir against the agri laws. He was ridiculed by the BJP for this.
According to reports, Dhesi attacked India at the Referendum 2020 rally — a pro-Khalistan movement organised by the banned terrorist outfit Sikhs for Justice — in London.
Dhesi, however, termed the allegations a part of the campaign to stop his entry into Punjab and to malign the Sikh community in general.
