PRESS NOTE / PRESS RELEASE Ref: Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s proposal to scrap 3, 00,000 Federal Skilled Worker Applications for Permanent Residence. “KOMAGATAMARU REPEATED AGAIN BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT” Unfair Legislating away of PR applications applied as early as 2004 by the Canadian Government. Ludhiana, India, April 13, 2012: The history of Komagatamaru and the Chinese Act of 1923 is being repeated once again by the Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism who has introduced a proposal to return all the immigration applications without processing, retrospectively, which were filed before 27/2/2008 under Federal skilled worker category numbering into more than 3, 00,000 applications applied as early as 2004. This proposal if implemented would crash the plans and dreams of millions of people world over, a major part of which comprises Indians waiting for their turn to come up for many of them for the last eight years. ‘The Canadian Back Loggers Pre 2008 Association’ strongly condemns this proposal and demands its withdrawal because this is a fraud played upon these applicants and is an infringement of their Human Rights and breach of trust by the Canadian Government. The applicants, seeking immigration to Canada, world over including in India are agitated and feel offended by this proposal of the Canadian Government. The applicants, who are well qualified experienced professionals and fulfilled every requirement imposed by the Canadian Government, were kept waiting even since 2004 to get their files processed and were kept in dark by the Canadian Immigration authorities by concealing information or providing misinformation. It made false promise that the processing of their files would be done in the order they are received and that processing would be speeded up but instead the waiting period was increased to almost three times i.e. to a good eight years. After 28/2/2008 the applications received before 27/2/2008 were sent to the cold storage and their processing was stopped or slowed to a sickening pace and the doctrine of first come first serve was trashed. The proposal introduced by Mr. Jason Kenney, in the budget to return all the applications filed before 27/2/2008, retrospectively, without processing, for no fault of these applicants, is inhumane and an infringement of their Human Rights who wasted their long golden years of life and other available opportunities, waiting patiently for their turn believing in the fairness of the Canadian Government and its commitment to its announced policies. This decision reminds the historical incident of 1914 when the then Conservative Government of Canada returned the steam ship Komagatamaru carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, India and The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 designed to keep out immigrants of only Asian origin. If implemented, this proposal will push the world back to the horror of Racism and Slavery through commoditization of labor. Canada is a land originally owned by Red Indians, these Conservatives should keep in mind that they themselves are immigrants and should respect the Human Rights of these Applicants ‘The Canadian Back Loggers Pre 2008 Association’ champions the cause of these applicants and appeals to all the Human Rights Organizations, Political Parties, and the Governments (including State Governments, Government of India and Governments of other countries) to protect such applicants who are not just 3, 00,000 applicants but families numbering into more than a million, from being condemned in this inhuman way by the Canadian Government and raise this issue at every forum. This is not 1914 but 21st century, the age of Globalization. Our association would be submitting a memorandum against this proposal to the United Nations Human Rights Council at Hague, Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister of Canada and the High Commissioner of Canada in India. 30th April 2012 is the world protest day and protest rallies will be held all over the globe including China, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka etc. We will also hold protests and Rallies against this proposal of the Canadian Govt. on that day across India to withdraw this unholy proposal. Press Contact: Rakesh Kumar Garg, President Backloggers 2008 Association You may also find us united at facebook as Prospective Canadian Immigrants http://www.facebook.com/groups/179730375479964/ A skype interview can be arranged by fixing an appointment with Mr. Rakesh Kumar Garg on his mobile: 09810560624 or e-mail: rakeshgarg11@gmail.com
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