Indian asylum seekers in US double in 2 years

JALANDHAR: The number of Indians seeking refuge in US in the last two years show a steep rise. Statistics stated that while 722 Indians applied for refugee or asylum in the US earlier, their numbers rose to 2,412 in 2014 after PM Narendra Modi's government came to power. The number rose to 4,434 in 2015, and has crossed 1,802 this year. While 181 people were granted asylum in 2015, around 59 were already granted asylum this year. Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA, said there was need for the NDA government to check the reason behind such a steep rise in the number of Indians seeking asylum in the US. "Is it intolerance, unemployment, unfriendly government policies or the deterioration of law and order situation that is making many more people seeking a secure future in foreign countries," Chahal said.