Following Swaraj’s footsteps; EAM Jaishankar confirms travel document issued for Punjab youth’s return from Malaysia

New Delhi, July 3: Setting a benchmark with her exuberant and inspirational work, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made sure that people are just one click away if in need. Following the same footsteps, EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that emergency travel document has been issued to Punjabi youth Harbans Singh for his expeditious return to India from Malaysia.

Harbans had gone to Malaysia in August 2018 on a tourist visa, where he was taken to the custody on grounds unknown to his family. Speaking to the media, EAM Jaishankar asserted that the Indian High Commission in Malaysia was in touch with Singh, who is in a detention camp for repatriation. An emergency travel document has been issued by our High Commission for his expeditious return.

EAM Jaishankar said, “Our High Commission in Malaysia is in regular touch with Harbans Singh, who was detained by the police on May 13 for visa violations and was released on June 19. He is currently in a detention camp for repatriation.”

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had on Tuesday written to the External Affairs Minister, seeking the Centre's intervention for the release of Singh. The Punjab CM had drawn EAM Jaishankar's attention to the case of the youth, a resident of Gumti Kalan village in Bathinda district.

In the letter, CM Amarinder Singh cited, “Harbans' family has disclosed that he had gone to Malaysia in August 2018 on a tourist visa. However, the family is unaware as to on what grounds the Malaysian police has taken him in custody. It is informed that the citizen of India.”

A copy of the youth's Aadhaar card, an abstract of the electoral roll and his photograph were enclosed with the letter as proof of his Indian citizenship.