Sikh-Americans welcome removal of 225 Sikhs from blacklist

From Lalit K Jha Washington, Aug 21 (PTI) Calling it a "step in the rightdirection", Sikh-Americans here have welcomed the Indiangovernment’s decision of removing the names of 225 Sikhs froma blacklist. "This is a step in the right direction and a promisefulfilled by the Modi government," said Jasdip Singh Jasse,founder of Sikhs of America, at a joint news conference withthe Overseas Friends of BJP-USA, which was attended by leadersof Sikh American community. Last year, a delegation of Sikh-Americans led by Singhhad submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modiwhen he visited the Silicon Valley. Singh, along with a delegation of OFBJP-USA, had alsosubmitted a similar memorandum to Home Minister Rajnath Singhlast year. Names of 225 Sikhs, chronicled in the government’sblacklist for their alleged involvement in subversive oranti-India activities, have been removed over the last fouryears. The pruning has been done in a list of 298 Sikhs whichwas prepared at different levels by security agencies since1980s. PTI LKJ KJ ASKASK