Logo

Logo

Punjab Congress spark over Indo-Canadian-Khalistani sympathies

The Punjab Congress on Monday castigated the elements standing up in support of Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, saying…

Punjab Congress spark over Indo-Canadian-Khalistani sympathies

Harjit Singh Sajjan (Photo: Facebook)

The Punjab Congress on Monday castigated the elements standing up in support of Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, saying there was enough documentary and circumstantial evidence on record to prove the Indo-Canadian’s Khalistani sympathies.

In a statement issued, Punjab Congress leaders Ravneet Bittu and Gurjeet Aujla said that those criticising Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, were playing into the hands of anti-Indian forces. Punjab Congress leaders further urged all organisations, including political parties, not to indulge in 'petty' politics over such a serious issue which had grave implications for the future of Punjab and its people.

Punjab Congress leaders further pointed out that the pro-Khalistani leanings of Sajjan had been endorsed by several leaders of his own Liberal Party, many of whom had quit the party in protest against his candidature as a Liberal. They further added that Sajjan’s brazenly pro-Khalistani stance had also not gone down well with the Indian government when the Liberal candidate, at a Surrey temple Remembrance Day event in 2011, had warned his colleagues not to allow themselves to be photographed near posters of Khalistani martyrs.

Advertisement

They also said that Ottawa was forced to apologise to India over the event. "As per publicly reported information, the apology followed complaints from some Punjabi-Canadians that religious fundamentalists would hijack a solemn day to honour the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers," Punjab Congress leader Ravneet Bittu said.

The Congress leaders further said that having been badly scarred by militancy in the past, Punjab could not afford to ignore such blatant signs of efforts to revive the Khalistani forces, which were simply waiting to draw out their fangs at the slightest opportunity. The recent statements of several religious and political leaders, dubbing Captain Amarinder’s refusal to meet Sajjan during his India visit as a 'conspiracy’, were a cause for concern as they had chosen to indulge in needless criticism for the sake of criticism, without even bothering to check out Sajjan’s background, the Congress leaders added.

Advertisement