Revoking licenses of Punjabi truck drivers by United States is condemnable; appeal to Ministry of External Affairs to intervene: Sukhjinder Randhawa

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu) :

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa strongly condemned the decision by the United States to cancel the driving licenses of young truck drivers from Punjab and Haryana. He said that lakhs of Punjabi youth settled in the US depend on the trucking profession for their livelihood and support their families through this work. Such a decision has put the livelihood of thousands and lakhs of Punjabi youth at risk.

Randhawa urged the central government to direct Ministry of External Affairs to immediately intervene in the matter and engage with the US government to ensure the protection of Indian, especially Punjabi, truck drivers working there. He said that safeguarding the rights and employment of Indians living abroad is the responsibility of the central government, and a prompt and positive resolution should be found.

He added that the issue will be raised in Delhi to protect the employment of Punjabis. He emphasized that the Punjabi community in the US has long been working in the transport sector with dedication and honesty. In such a situation, the sudden cancellation of licenses is highly concerning and could affect the future of many families.

Randhawa further stated that global instability already prevails due to tensions involving Israel and Iran, and decisions like these by the US are causing widespread harm. He alleged that this move targets India, affecting around 150,000 Indian truck drivers.

He also mentioned that prior to this, licenses of approximately 1,790 truck drivers from Punjab and Haryana were abruptly canceled, depriving them of their livelihood. A condition requiring a work visa for truck driving has been imposed, creating a crisis for the businesses and livelihoods of lakhs of Indians. Immediate action is needed in this regard.