हिंदी
Florida Incident Cannot Be an Excuse to Punish an Entire Punjabi Community
Threat to the Livelihoods of Thousands of Punjabi Families
Ashwani Sharma Writes to External Affairs Minister, Puts Forward 3 Urgent Demands
Chandigarh, 25 August 2025
Following the Florida accident involving a truck driver of Punjabi origin, the U.S. administration has imposed a ban on work visas for foreign truck drivers. This decision has caused serious concern among thousands of Punjabi drivers and their families. Taking the matter seriously, BJP Punjab’s Working President Ashwani Sharma has written to the External Affairs Minister, urging the Central Government to intervene immediately.
In his letter, Ashwani Sharma stated that such restrictions by the U.S., based solely on an unfortunate incident, amount to punishing an entire community. He emphasized that Punjabi drivers form the backbone of the U.S. logistics and transport sector, widely known for their hard work, reliability, and dedication. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Punjabi drivers played a crucial role in keeping supply chains running under dangerous conditions.
In its letter, the BJP placed three key demands before the External Affairs Minister—
1 -Engage with the U.S. government to ensure that an entire community is not penalized for a single incident.
2 – Through the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., initiate immediate talks with U.S. authorities to reconsider the restrictions on truck drivers.
3 – Provide legal and consular support to truck driver Harjinder Singh, so that his case is heard fairly and transparently.
The party has appealed to the Central Government to raise this matter at the international level, sending a strong message that India stands firmly with its citizens, wherever they may be in the world.
