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1984 riots horrific, regrettable: Canada defence minister
Aditya Kant | TNN | Updated: Apr 17, 2017, 05.54PM IST
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Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan (Reuters file photo)
Canada defence minister Harjit Sajjan 's visit to India in the backdrop of Ontario parliament's resolution describing 1984 Sikh riots as "genocide" and the Indian government's strong reaction to the resolution is being keenly watched. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh's remarks that he would not meet Sajjan during his visit to Punjab have further made his visit controversial. But Sajjan, who is visiting india for the first time after becoming minister, is unruffled, and hopeful that it would help strengthen the multi-faceted Canada-India ties. In an interview with Aditya Kant , Sajjan reiterates that the events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable.
How do you look forward to your visit to India?
I am greatly looking forward to my first trip to India after becoming Canada's minister of national defence. This visit will further strengthen Canada and India's bilateral defence cooperation and further cement ties between the two countries. As India continues to forge international defence partnerships, it is a great opportunity to increase Canada-India cooperation, not only in security and defence, but also economically and culturally.
I hope to have fruitful meetings with Indian politicians, businesses and civil society. As someone who was born in Punjab and as a representative of the Government of Canada, the relationship between Canada and the people and Punjab is something that is very close to my heart.
Ontario Parliament has recently passed a motion terming 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide'. Are you going to take up the issue with the Indian government?
As a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, I fought abroad to ensure and protect human rights around the world. This remains one of my greatest motivations as a public servant and as Canada's minister of national defence. Canada has expressed regret over the violence and loss of life in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
These violent events are an extreme example of religious intolerance and inter-communal violence, and had a tragic outcome. The Indo-Canadian and Sikh community in Canada has made and continues to make major cultural, social, economic and political contributions to the pluralistic and multicultural mosaic that is Canada, and I am proud to call myself an Indo-Canadian and a Sikh.
How do you respond to the Indian government rejecting the Ontario resolution?
The events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. The promotion and protection of human rights around the world remains an integral part of Canada's foreign policy and our government attaches great importance to freedom from all forms of discrimination and religious intolerance. We respect cultural, ethnic, and religious differences.
While political parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have supported the Ontario resolution, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has said he won't meet you during your visit and has called you a "Khalistani sympathizer". How do you respond to this?
My trip to India is focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Canada and India and increasing collaboration in a number of areas, including defence and security, innovation, culture, and trade. I am proud Canadian, and have served my country my entire life, as part of the Canadian armed forces, as a member of the Vancouver police department, and now as the MP for Vancouver South as well as the minister of national defence. My focus is to serve Canada and Canadians.
What are your expectations from the Punjab visit?
As a Sikh, I am eager to visit the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandar Sahib, in Amritsar, particularly as it is around the time of Baisakhi. I am excited about the
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1984 riots horrific, regrettable: Canada defence minister
Aditya Kant | TNN | Updated: Apr 17, 2017, 05.54PM IST
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Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan (Reuters file photo)
Canada defence minister Harjit Sajjan 's visit to India in the backdrop of Ontario parliament's resolution describing 1984 Sikh riots as "genocide" and the Indian government's strong reaction to the resolution is being keenly watched. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh's remarks that he would not meet Sajjan during his visit to Punjab have further made his visit controversial. But Sajjan, who is visiting india for the first time after becoming minister, is unruffled, and hopeful that it would help strengthen the multi-faceted Canada-India ties. In an interview with Aditya Kant , Sajjan reiterates that the events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable.
How do you look forward to your visit to India?
I am greatly looking forward to my first trip to India after becoming Canada's minister of national defence. This visit will further strengthen Canada and India's bilateral defence cooperation and further cement ties between the two countries. As India continues to forge international defence partnerships, it is a great opportunity to increase Canada-India cooperation, not only in security and defence, but also economically and culturally.
I hope to have fruitful meetings with Indian politicians, businesses and civil society. As someone who was born in Punjab and as a representative of the Government of Canada, the relationship between Canada and the people and Punjab is something that is very close to my heart.
Ontario Parliament has recently passed a motion terming 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide'. Are you going to take up the issue with the Indian government?
As a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, I fought abroad to ensure and protect human rights around the world. This remains one of my greatest motivations as a public servant and as Canada's minister of national defence. Canada has expressed regret over the violence and loss of life in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
These violent events are an extreme example of religious intolerance and inter-communal violence, and had a tragic outcome. The Indo-Canadian and Sikh community in Canada has made and continues to make major cultural, social, economic and political contributions to the pluralistic and multicultural mosaic that is Canada, and I am proud to call myself an Indo-Canadian and a Sikh.
How do you respond to the Indian government rejecting the Ontario resolution?
The events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. The promotion and protection of human rights around the world remains an integral part of Canada's foreign policy and our government attaches great importance to freedom from all forms of discrimination and religious intolerance. We respect cultural, ethnic, and religious differences.
While political parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have supported the Ontario resolution, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has said he won't meet you during your visit and has called you a "Khalistani sympathizer". How do you respond to this?
My trip to India is focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Canada and India and increasing collaboration in a number of areas, including defence and security, innovation, culture, and trade. I am proud Canadian, and have served my country my entire life, as part of the Canadian armed forces, as a member of the Vancouver police department, and now as the MP for Vancouver South as well as the minister of national defence. My focus is to serve Canada and Canadians.
What are your expectations from the Punjab visit?
As a Sikh, I am eager to visit the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandar Sahib, in Amritsar, particularly as it is around the time of Baisakhi. I I am excited about the opportunity to show Canadians how sewa - selfless service and helping those in need - are values shared not only by the Sikh community, but by all Canadians.
How do you view ties between the two countries in the wake of recent developments?
I hope to build upon the recent visits of my colleagues Navdeep Singh Bains, Amarjeet Sohi, Francois- Phillipe Champagne, MacCaulay and Bardish Chagger to India as well as the work done by our government to strengthen the multifaceted CanadaIndia relationship, encompassing defence, trade, political, cultural and people-to-people ties.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/chan...book.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOI
Aditya Kant | TNN | Updated: Apr 17, 2017, 05.54PM IST
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Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan (Reuters file photo)
Canada defence minister Harjit Sajjan 's visit to India in the backdrop of Ontario parliament's resolution describing 1984 Sikh riots as "genocide" and the Indian government's strong reaction to the resolution is being keenly watched. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh's remarks that he would not meet Sajjan during his visit to Punjab have further made his visit controversial. But Sajjan, who is visiting india for the first time after becoming minister, is unruffled, and hopeful that it would help strengthen the multi-faceted Canada-India ties. In an interview with Aditya Kant , Sajjan reiterates that the events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable.
How do you look forward to your visit to India?
I am greatly looking forward to my first trip to India after becoming Canada's minister of national defence. This visit will further strengthen Canada and India's bilateral defence cooperation and further cement ties between the two countries. As India continues to forge international defence partnerships, it is a great opportunity to increase Canada-India cooperation, not only in security and defence, but also economically and culturally.
I hope to have fruitful meetings with Indian politicians, businesses and civil society. As someone who was born in Punjab and as a representative of the Government of Canada, the relationship between Canada and the people and Punjab is something that is very close to my heart.
Ontario Parliament has recently passed a motion terming 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide'. Are you going to take up the issue with the Indian government?
As a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, I fought abroad to ensure and protect human rights around the world. This remains one of my greatest motivations as a public servant and as Canada's minister of national defence. Canada has expressed regret over the violence and loss of life in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
These violent events are an extreme example of religious intolerance and inter-communal violence, and had a tragic outcome. The Indo-Canadian and Sikh community in Canada has made and continues to make major cultural, social, economic and political contributions to the pluralistic and multicultural mosaic that is Canada, and I am proud to call myself an Indo-Canadian and a Sikh.
How do you respond to the Indian government rejecting the Ontario resolution?
The events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. The promotion and protection of human rights around the world remains an integral part of Canada's foreign policy and our government attaches great importance to freedom from all forms of discrimination and religious intolerance. We respect cultural, ethnic, and religious differences.
While political parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have supported the Ontario resolution, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has said he won't meet you during your visit and has called you a "Khalistani sympathizer". How do you respond to this?
My trip to India is focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Canada and India and increasing collaboration in a number of areas, including defence and security, innovation, culture, and trade. I am proud Canadian, and have served my country my entire life, as part of the Canadian armed forces, as a member of the Vancouver police department, and now as the MP for Vancouver South as well as the minister of national defence. My focus is to serve Canada and Canadians.
What are your expectations from the Punjab visit?
As a Sikh, I am eager to visit the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandar Sahib, in Amritsar, particularly as it is around the time of Baisakhi. I am excited about the
TOI
GET APP
CITY
AA
1984 riots horrific, regrettable: Canada defence minister
Aditya Kant | TNN | Updated: Apr 17, 2017, 05.54PM IST
WhatsappFacebookGoogle PlusTwitterEmailLinkedinSMS
SHARE
Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan (Reuters file photo)
Canada defence minister Harjit Sajjan 's visit to India in the backdrop of Ontario parliament's resolution describing 1984 Sikh riots as "genocide" and the Indian government's strong reaction to the resolution is being keenly watched. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh's remarks that he would not meet Sajjan during his visit to Punjab have further made his visit controversial. But Sajjan, who is visiting india for the first time after becoming minister, is unruffled, and hopeful that it would help strengthen the multi-faceted Canada-India ties. In an interview with Aditya Kant , Sajjan reiterates that the events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable.
How do you look forward to your visit to India?
I am greatly looking forward to my first trip to India after becoming Canada's minister of national defence. This visit will further strengthen Canada and India's bilateral defence cooperation and further cement ties between the two countries. As India continues to forge international defence partnerships, it is a great opportunity to increase Canada-India cooperation, not only in security and defence, but also economically and culturally.
I hope to have fruitful meetings with Indian politicians, businesses and civil society. As someone who was born in Punjab and as a representative of the Government of Canada, the relationship between Canada and the people and Punjab is something that is very close to my heart.
Ontario Parliament has recently passed a motion terming 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide'. Are you going to take up the issue with the Indian government?
As a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, I fought abroad to ensure and protect human rights around the world. This remains one of my greatest motivations as a public servant and as Canada's minister of national defence. Canada has expressed regret over the violence and loss of life in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
These violent events are an extreme example of religious intolerance and inter-communal violence, and had a tragic outcome. The Indo-Canadian and Sikh community in Canada has made and continues to make major cultural, social, economic and political contributions to the pluralistic and multicultural mosaic that is Canada, and I am proud to call myself an Indo-Canadian and a Sikh.
How do you respond to the Indian government rejecting the Ontario resolution?
The events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. The promotion and protection of human rights around the world remains an integral part of Canada's foreign policy and our government attaches great importance to freedom from all forms of discrimination and religious intolerance. We respect cultural, ethnic, and religious differences.
While political parties like Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party have supported the Ontario resolution, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has said he won't meet you during your visit and has called you a "Khalistani sympathizer". How do you respond to this?
My trip to India is focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Canada and India and increasing collaboration in a number of areas, including defence and security, innovation, culture, and trade. I am proud Canadian, and have served my country my entire life, as part of the Canadian armed forces, as a member of the Vancouver police department, and now as the MP for Vancouver South as well as the minister of national defence. My focus is to serve Canada and Canadians.
What are your expectations from the Punjab visit?
As a Sikh, I am eager to visit the holiest of Sikh shrines, Sri Harmandar Sahib, in Amritsar, particularly as it is around the time of Baisakhi. I I am excited about the opportunity to show Canadians how sewa - selfless service and helping those in need - are values shared not only by the Sikh community, but by all Canadians.
How do you view ties between the two countries in the wake of recent developments?
I hope to build upon the recent visits of my colleagues Navdeep Singh Bains, Amarjeet Sohi, Francois- Phillipe Champagne, MacCaulay and Bardish Chagger to India as well as the work done by our government to strengthen the multifaceted CanadaIndia relationship, encompassing defence, trade, political, cultural and people-to-people ties.
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/chan...book.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOI
