RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): With a view to reaching the consular services to the doorstep of people, Cox & King organized a Visa Camp, May 31 at Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana in Richmond Hill. A large number of persons seeking visa and passport came forward with their questions and applications. The Cox & King team, led by Ranjeet Singh handles the job efficiently. However, those seeking passport were disappointed, as Cox & King entertained only Visa related issues. Those seeking passport later met with the Consul General Dnyaneshwar M Mulay who gave them a patient hearing.

Ambassador Mulay advised the Gurdwara management headed by Himat Singh Sarpanch, the President, to forward the cases of the passport seekers  who have faced problems in getting their passport to his office and he will have each case examined on merit.

Earlier on his arrival at the Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana, Ambassador Mulay was received by President Himat Singh Sarpanch and other members of the management. Welcoming the Consul General, Gurdwara General Secretary Kuldeep Singh praised him for his dedicated work in the service of the community, particularly, the Sikh community.

Introducing Ambassador Mulay, Prof. Indrajit S Saluja , editor of The Indian Panorama said Mr. Mulay was a descendant of a Bhagat Nam Dev Ji, a great saint whom the Sikhs also revere and whose verses the Sikh Gurus included in  Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the Living Guru of the Sikhs. As such, it was natural that he took deep interest  in the Sikh community. Prof. Saluja also spoke of the problems the Sikh community faced with regard to Consular services. He mentioned, in particular, the community’s problems in getting passport.

In his speech , Ambassador Mulay repeatedly spoke of his reverence for the Sikh Gurus, Shri  Guru Ganth Sahib and his admiration for the Sikh community who have made great contribution to freedom struggle of India and to  the development of the free India. He said he admired the hardworking Sikh community who brought about prosperity to wherever they went.

Ambassador Mulay  assured the community of all help and described how he had thrown open the doors of the Consulate to all Indian Americans. He also described the activities which are conducted by the Consulate for and with the community. He invited the gathering to come forward to participate in the Consulate programs aimed at strengthening Indo-US relations, promoting the interests of the Indian American community, and involving the NRIs in the growth and development of India.

Thanking Ambassador Mulay, President of the Gurdwara Himat Singh Sarpanch said it was an honor to have the Ambassador visit the Gurdwara  and speak candidly with the congregation. He thanked the Consul General for his assurance to look in to the genuine problems of the Sikh community with regard to the passport and visa.

The founder President of the Gurdwara , Master Mohinder Singh and a former President Raghbir Singh Subhanpur also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the problems the Sikh community faced with regard to obtaining passport and visa.

It was the first visit by a Consul General of India o a Gurdwara in the last 10 years or so.