Indian students in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, are facing potential deportation due to recent changes in provincial laws, prompting protests that have now entered their second week. Despite the ongoing demonstrations, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reported no updates or significant information regarding the deportation of these students.
The protesting students, who see this as a “now-or-never situation,” are determined to continue their fight for justice. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a media briefing, stating, “A large number of students have gone to Canada to study. The figure is pretty significant. But we haven’t come across several students facing deportation… We do not have any updates on that. We are not aware. There may be one case here or one case there. But we don’t see any major problem as far as students in Canada are concerned.”
On social media, the protest has been gaining momentum, with updates shared under the handle Protest Pei on X. The platform recently posted, “2nd week of the protest, and we are still strong. We don’t want free, we want fair,” emphasizing the critical nature of their demands.
https://x.com/Protest_pei/status/1792000542522085842
A significant assembly meeting of the protesting students is scheduled for May 23 at 175 Richmond Street, Charlottetown, PEI. The protests stem from recent modifications to PEI’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), aimed at reducing the influx of immigrants due to mounting pressure on the province’s healthcare and housing systems.
The Indian students argue that the abrupt changes in immigration policies have left them without work permits, despite their graduation. They are demanding an extension of work permits and a reconsideration of the new immigration regulations.
Rupinder Pal Singh, a protest leader who arrived in Canada from India in 2023, articulated the students’ primary demands: “We have three demands that we are focusing on. First, we demand to be grandfathered into the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) system because we were already here, working on valid work permits, before the new rules were implemented. It is only fair that those who were present before the changes be allowed to continue under the old system.”
The policy changes in PEI have sparked a significant outcry among the affected students, who feel blindsided by the sudden shift in regulations. As the protests continue, the students remain steadfast in their pursuit of a fair resolution that acknowledges their contributions and efforts to integrate into Canadian society.
While the MEA claims to have no substantial reports on the deportations, the situation remains tense as Indian students in PEI persist in their protests, hoping for a change that will secure their future in Canada.