SAD neta on NRI outreach trip denied entry in Canada; former MLA Brakandi blames AAP govt

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior vice-president and its national spokesperson Parambans Singh Bunty Romana, who was to lead a party delegation to Canada on an NRI outreach ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections, was denied entry in Canada after he landed at Toronto airport on Thursday, said SAD’s Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi.Romana was to be sent back to India in the same plane, Barkandi, a former MLA from Muktsar, told TOI on Thursday night.Barkandi said Romana’s wife told him that one of the grounds of denial of entry was that he hadn’t obtained “police clearance” in connection with a case. Barkandi said Romana had court permission to travel to Canada.Barkandi blamed AAP government for Romana being turned back from Toronto, alleging that he was shown videos of press conferences he had earlier held against govt.AAP spokesperson Neel Garg termed the allegations “baseless” and said, “If he has been deniedentry in Canada, it is between the external affairs ministries of the two countries. Punjab government has nothing to do with it.”Barkandi said it was Romana’s first visit to Canada. While other members of the SAD delegation left for Canada on Thursday, Romana had left a day in advance to see his daughter who studies in Toronto.The SAD team is scheduled to visit several provinces in Canada from June 13-29 to garner support ahead of assembly polls. Barkandi was to be part of the delegation, but is still waiting for his visa.