Who was Sukhi Chahal? Outspoken anti-Khalistan & pro-Indian activist's death raises doubt
Sukhi Chahal, a US-based businessman and fierce opponent of Khalistani separatism, died suddenly in California just weeks before a referendum he had vocally criticised. Chahal reportedly collapsed after dinner at an acquaintance's home. Friends say he had been in good health and had received multiple death threats in recent months. The timing of his death has triggered suspicion and concern across pro-India circles. Police are investigating and awaiting autopsy results.
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Indian Express
4 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Amid curbs on H1B and student visas, more Indians are lining up for US investment visas
'THE TRUMP Card is Coming. Enter your information below to be notified the moment access opens,' says the new US government website on the Gold Card, the $5 million US residency visa programme announced by President Donald Trump in February. Despite curiosity around the new programme, the launch date and specific details of which are yet to be released, data shows that the existing investment-based residency programme EB-5, which the Gold Card will replace, has seen more applications from India over the past one year than ever before. According to the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA), a Washington-based collective of EB-5 investors, demand for EB-5 from Indian citizens has grown sharply since April 2024, driven by factors such as stricter controls over student and temporary work visas under the Trump regime. Data provided by United States Immigration Fund (USIF), which runs designated EB-5 regional centres in the US, confirms this. 'In the first four months of FY2025 (October 2024-January 2025), Indian applicants filed more than 1,200 I-526E petitions across reserved categories — more than any prior full year,' Nicholas Mastroianni III, president and CMO of USIF, told The Indian Express, referring to the application forms. Experts said another factor fuelling EB-5 filings could be a record backlog in other immigration categories, including H1-B and green card. According to estimates, more than 11 million US immigration applications are pending with the authorities. So, EB-5 has become the fastest and most assured route to US permanent residency, they said. Data accessed by The Indian Express from Washington-based Invest In the USA (IIUSA), an overarching trade association for the EB-5 regional centre programme, show that 1,428 EB-5 visas were issued to Indians in FY2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), as against 815 in the previous year. Between 2014 and 2021, the figures were minuscule, at 96 in 2014, and under 200 EB-5 visas until 2017. Created by the US Congress in 1992, the EB-5 programme is a pathway to green cards to immigrants who make a minimum investment of $1,050,000 (Rs 9 crore), or $800,000 (Rs 6.88 crore) in economically distressed zones called Targeted Employment Areas (TEA), to create jobs for Americans, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. It allows the investor, their spouse and unmarried children under 21, to immigrate to the US. However, changes were brought to the programme in 2022, introducing both flexibility for investors and stronger audit checks on sources of income. Following this, experts said, filings from high net worth Indian citizens looking for US residency increased manifold. 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The number of student visas issued by the US government have dropped by 15% globally to 89,000 in the first half of fiscal year 2025 (October-March) with India reporting a massive fall of 43.5% in fresh visas compared to the same period in 2024, according to the US Department of State data. The numbers are likely to fall further in the second half of fiscal 2025 due to a nearly month-long pause in new visa appointments over May and June. While China remains top user of EB-5 visas, followed by Vietnam and India, IIUSA data also shows that most Indian filings come through the Indian consulate in Mumbai, showing that high net worth individuals from the financial capital and the region have been using this route to get US residency. Out of the total 638 unreserved consular processing (for those based in India, as opposed to adjustment of status, meant for those already living in the US) applicants between October 2024 and May 2025, 543 filed through the US consulate in Mumbai. According to Ravneit Kaur Brar, Attorney-at-law in California who deals with immigration issues, the data is always compiled with China and India as two data points because of very high volume coming out of these two countries, in almost every category. China accounts for 51% of worldwide filings. India remains the second-largest market, contributing a total of 1,341 I-526/E filings between FY2022 and July 5, 2024, with 1,057 of them filed under the Reserved EB-5 categories, Brar said. 'India shows a positive trend in approval rates over the years. India's approval rate rose from 59% in FY2022 to 82% in FY2024,' she said. The processing time from petition filing to visa issuance varies from the kind of projects being opted for by the applicant. While rural area projects take approximately 8-24 months; High-Unemployment Area Projects take 12-30 months. Mastroianni said that contrary to assumptions, there has been a surge in demand for EB-5 after the announcement of the Gold Card programme. 'We are witnessing one of the most promising surges in EB-5 interest from Indian families in recent history. The uncertainty surrounding future visa programmes like the proposed Gold Card, combined with heightened scrutiny of traditional student and work visa routes, has pushed many investors to act now — not later. What's changed is not just demand, but decisiveness,' he said. 'With the spectre of visa retrogression looming and the current ability to file concurrently from within the US, families are prioritising stability, permanence, and long-term security. EB-5 is no longer seen as an alternative — it's become the preferred strategy,' Mastroianni said. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Philippines eyes buying more defence equipment from India
. NEW DELHI: As the Indian govt prepares to host Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Manila has expressed interest in purchasing more defence equipment from India. Defence, security and maritime cooperation are among the key pillars of the relationship and will top the agenda of Marcos' bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, along with trade ties. Ahead of the president's visit, the chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Romeo Brawner, said the Philippines is looking to purchase more weapon systems from India, citing the quality and affordability of Indian defence equipment. Talking about the ongoing delivery of BrahMos cruise missiles to Manila, Brawner also said two sets of the India-Russia jointly developed missile systems will arrive in the Philippines in the next few years. The Philippines' maritime dispute in the South China Sea (SCS), or what Manila calls the West Philippine Sea, has seen it scaling up defence cooperation with countries like India and Japan to blunt Chinese aggression and ensure peace and stability in the contested waters. India will also join the Philippines this week for a joint patrol in the South China Sea. In the middle of its own border tensions with China, India in 2023 joined Manila in explicitly asking China to abide by a 2016 arbitral tribunal award that refuted Beijing's expansive claims over SCS waters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Modi and Marcos are also expected to discuss India's offer for concessional Line of Credit to meet Philippines' defence requirements, acquisition of naval assets, and expansion of training and joint exercises on maritime security. According to Manila, six agreements in a range of areas like science and technology, law and culture are expected to be signed. The Modi-Marcos meeting, however, takes place in the middle of efforts by both India and China to rebuild their relationship and it will be interesting to see how much play the South China Sea issue can get in the meeting. During Marcos' recent visit to the US, President Donald Trump reportedly told him he wouldn't mind if Manila got along with China. The two countries will also discuss efforts to enhance trade ties, as they both look to conclude a bilateral trade deal with the US to avoid getting caught in the cross hairs of Trump's trade war. While the US president has announced 25% tariffs on imports from India, he has slapped Manila with a 19% levy. Bilateral trade crossed $3 billion for the first time in 2022-2023 and the two sides have agreed to commence negotiations for a bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement. According to the ministry of external affairs (MEA), development cooperation is another crucial aspect of bilateral relationship. "India is implementing six Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in the areas of agriculture, disaster risk reduction & management, health-care and livelihood support, in the Philippines, under an MoU on Indian Grant Assistance for the implementation of QIPs, signed on Feb 7, 2023," said an official.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Condolences pour in for anti-Khalistani activist Sukhi Chahal; cremation details awaited
Amritsar: Following the death of US-based Sikh activist Sukhi Chahal , known for his anti-Khalistan stance, a wave of condolences has poured in. Many remembered him fondly, sharing personal anecdotes and acknowledging his impactful presence and contributions to media. However, there is no official information yet on the time or location of his cremation. Gurcharan Singh Gill, the president of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, said that Chahal had a clear and focused vision. "It would be inappropriate to label him as either anti- or pro-any particular ideology. He was a beacon of light for the Indian diaspora — not only in the United States but also in the United Kingdom," Gill stated. "During my previous visit to the UK, I found many admirers among the Sikh community who took pride in how he spoke the truth and exposed propaganda driven by vested interests and foreign funding," he added. G by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo ill noted that the late Sukhi Chahal regularly engaged with people and dignitaries who understood and supported his mission. "His passing is a significant loss to Bharat and the global Indian diaspora," he said. Stating that they have lost a 'Dharam Yodha', Dattatreya Hosabale, general secretary, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, in his message, said, "The sudden death of Chahal is extremely shocking. I can't believe it! My deep condolences to his family and admirers. In his death, we have lost a dharm yoddha. He was a true son of Bharat Mata, very passionate about the noble cause. I pray to the Almighty, to bestow peace on the departed soul. " Veteran leader and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Tarlochan Singh fondly recalled his interactions with Sukhi Chahal, describing him as an energetic individual who inspired others and established a television channel. "He used to visit Delhi frequently, took my interview, and shared his views. I've been informed that he passed away due to heart failure," he said. MSID:: 123076295 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
