‘What about common citizen?’ Ex-ambassador on citizenship list ‘trouble’

3 min learnAmritsarUp to date: Aug 24, 2026 11:15 AM IST

Former diplomat Navdeep Suri on Sunday raised considerations over the method of building citizenship throughout the ongoing Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Punjab.

Taking to X, Suri detailed his expertise navigating the SIR course of and questioned what it meant for peculiar residents if a former ambassador discovered the method tough. He wrote that he was issued a discover by the election fee and requested to supply paperwork after discrepancies have been flagged in his particulars from the 2003 electoral roll.
“I occur to have paperwork apart from voter ID and Aadhaar card. However can’t assist asking: If I’ve hassle establishing my citizenship after representing India in three nations, what’s the destiny of the widespread citizen? Ease of Dwelling, I presume!” Suri wrote.

He went on to explain the specifics of his interplay with native election officers. “Spoke with BLO, was informed that I ought to come and gather the discover. After which come once more with unspecified paperwork that present I’m an Indian citizen. I replied that I used to be not in India in 2003, so that they have requested for passport as proof. Paperwork uploaded in 2026 don’t match my particulars from 2003. Bizarre as a result of I used to be on the Indian Excessive Fee in London in 2003 and didn’t take part within the SIR,” he Suri.

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Suri served in India’s diplomatic missions in Cairo, Damascus, Washington, Dar es Salaam and London, and was India’s Consul Basic in Johannesburg. He was additionally India’s Excessive Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Egypt and the UAE. In recognition of his service, the president of the UAE conferred on him the Order of Zayed II, the nation’s second-highest civilian award.

In the meantime, when contacted, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anindita Mitra stated Suri’s title was by no means eliminated. “The title of former diplomat Navdeep Suri is a part of the draft electoral roll printed on August 13. It was by no means eliminated. His vote was registered in Amritsar and continues to be registered there. He obtained a discover and was requested to submit paperwork as he was not mapped within the 2003 SIR. After getting the paperwork, his title was printed as a part of electoral roll,” Mitra stated.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Specific, primarily protecting Amritsar and the Majha area of Punjab. He is likely one of the publication’s key reporters for tales involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the delicate socio-political problems with the border districts.

Core Beats & Specializations

Non secular & Panthic Affairs: He has deep experience within the inside workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, continuously reporting on spiritual sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the affect of Sikh establishments.

Nationwide Safety & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone actions from Pakistan, and the actions of radical teams.

Regional Politics: He’s the first correspondent for the Majha belt, protecting elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.

Current Notable Articles (Late 2025)

His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, native physique elections, and spiritual controversies:

1. Non secular Politics & Akal Takht

“Akal Takht pronounces spiritual sentences in opposition to former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh” (Dec 8, 2025): Protecting the historic determination to carry the previous Jathedar responsible for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.

“YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for every week over video on 1984 Military motion” (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between world tech platforms and Sikh spiritual our bodies.

“As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a take a look at its fraught demand” (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a “holy metropolis” and its political implications.

2. Crime & Nationwide Safety

“Principally Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit listing: Punjab govt to Excessive Court docket” (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state authorities’s claims relating to jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating exercise from jail.

“Punjab man with hyperlinks to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter” (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving “newly refurbished” firearms possible despatched from throughout the border.

“15 faculties in Amritsar get bomb menace emails; police launch probe” (Dec 12, 2025): Protecting the panic and police response to mass threats in opposition to academic establishments.

3. Political Evaluation & Elections

“AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha” (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a major shift within the 2025 rural elections the place the Akali Dal misplaced its grip on a conventional fortress.

“Tarn Taran bypoll: lady faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace” (Nov 9, 2025): A floor report on the non-public dangers confronted by residents talking out in opposition to the unlawful drug commerce in border villages.

“AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, however SAD finds silver lining” (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 meeting by-election outcomes and the shocking efficiency of Independents backed by radical factions.

4. Human Curiosity

“Two {couples} and a child: Punjab drug dependancy tragedy has new victims” (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about mother and father promoting an toddler to fund their dependancy.

“Kashmiri girls artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX” (Dec 8, 2025): A characteristic on monetary independence initiatives for rural girls on the Punjab Worldwide Commerce Expo.

Signature Beat

Kamaldeep is understood for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting typically highlights the “drug disaster within the underprivileged localities” (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), offering a voice to marginalized communities affected by dependancy and administrative neglect.

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