Chandigarh: Former deputy chief minister of Punjab and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa condemned the decision of the United States to cancel driving licences of young truck drivers from Punjab and Haryana. He said 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 put the livelihood of thousands and lakhs of Punjabi youth at risk, he said.Randhawa urged the central govt to direct the ministry of external affairs to immediately intervene in the matter and engage with the US govt to ensure the protection of Indian, especially Punjabi, truck drivers working there. He said safeguarding the rights and employment of Indians living abroad is the responsibility of the central govt, and a prompt and positive resolution should be found.Randhawa said 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 1.5 lakh Indian truck drivers.He also mentioned that prior to this, licences of approximately 1,790 truck drivers from Punjab and Haryana were abruptly cancelled, depriving them of their livelihood.
