Chandigarh, January 19

Around 180 non-resident Indians (NRIs), some of whom are quite critical of the SAD-BJP government and had boycotted the visits of Akali and Congress leaders abroad, reached the state to boost the campaign of AAP.

Though only about 300 NRIs are registered as voters in the state, the group aims to support the party by influencing their relatives.

An estimated 35,000 NRIs will be reaching the state within next few days to help AAP. Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal had in tours of a number of foreign countries invited the NRIs to support the party if they desired change in governance.

AAP spokespersons said the first batch of Punjabi NRIs from Canada arrived today in a special KLM flight that landed at Indira Gandhi Airport, New Delhi, at 1 pm. The second batch of NRIs from UK would land on January 24.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP’s overseas convener Kumar Vishwas gave a warm welcome to them at the airport.

Surinder Mavi, convener of ‘Chalo Punjab’ campaign in Toronto, led the first batch of 180 NRIs. He said they had come to Punjab to ensure defeat of the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress. Joban Randhawa, youth wing convener of AAP in Canada, said NRIs would work hard to get rid of the present SAD-BJP government. — TNS