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Don’t indulge in petty politics over Harjit Singh Sajjan issue: PPCC

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

Don’t indulge in petty politics over Harjit Singh Sajjan issue: PPCC

Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan (Photo: Twitter)

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

In a statement issued by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), leaders Ravneet Bittu and Gurjit Aujla said that those criticising Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh were playing into the hands of anti-Indian forces out to destroy the secular fabric of the nation. They further urged all organisations, including political parties, not to indulge in petty politics over such a serious issue, which could have implications for the future of Punjab and its people.

Sajjan is scheduled to kick-start his India visit from Monday evening.

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Sajjan’s brazenly pro-Khalistani stance has also not gone down well with the Indian government. At a Surrey temple Remembrance Day event in 2011, the Liberal candidate had warned his colleagues from being photographed near posters of Khalistani martyrs. The incident created so much stir that Ottawa was forced to apologise to India over the event. PPCC leaders said that as per publicly reported information, the apology followed complaints from some Punjabi-Canadians that religious fundamentalists had hijacked a solemn day to honour the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers.

By choosing to ignore these, and many other documented facts, political and religious organisations in India were extending their subtle support to Sajjan and other pro-Khalistani elements like him, said the PPCC leaders, warning that this would prove to be highly damaging to the interests of India, particularly Punjab, in the long run.

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, without even bothering to check out Sajjan’s background, the Congress leaders added.

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