Sikh Canadians, Sikhs in Punjab and those in the rest of the world, keeping a close watch on the political developments are upset at the lame duck addendum carried out by the Canadian Minister for Public Safety Ralph Goodale in the wording of the 2018 Report on Public Safety which has blanket insinuations about Sikh (Khalistani) Terrorism in Canada.

On a day when Sikhs gathered in Brampton to voice their concern and question the intent of the government, Canada’s Minister for Public Safety Ralph Goodale, in a statement acknowledged that in the 2018 Public Safety Report, “the language used to describe some threats unintentionally maligned certain communities….and is not in line with the values of the Government of Canada”.

Does it not sound like some enforced political statement from a tin-pot little banana republic? Is it not like a statement from an Indian minister regarding torture in India?

Piqued at the response, the World Sikh Organization of Canada has expressed serious disappointment. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, appreciated the attendance of MPs and others who attended but was candid in his comment, “This is a historical document; unless corrected, the wound will stick.”

“This is a historical document; unless corrected, the wound will stick.”

Balpreet Singh, Legal advisor, WSO

It may be noted that Sikhs across Canada and India have expressed their shock and disappointment at the inclusion of “Sikh (Khalistani) Terrorism” to the 2018 Public Safety Canada Report on Terrorism Threats to Canada.  The report does not make any reference to current extremist activities in the Sikh community and simply states, “some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements.”

Many in the Sikh community feared that the section was added due to Indian interference and pressure following Prime Minister Trudeau’s trip to India in February 2018.

While the 2018 Report has not been altered and still contains the section on “Sikh (Khalistani) Terrorism”, Minister Goodale in his statement said that an addendum to the Report now suggests that in the future the term “Extremists who support violent means to establish an independent state within India” will be used as necessary and appropriate.

Minister Goodale’s statement came on the same day as a community meeting organized by the Ontario Sikh and Gurdwaras Council and Ontario Gurdwaras Committee in partnership with the WSO on the issue of the 2018 Public Safety Report.

Does the Canadian Minister’s response not sound like some enforced political statement from a tin-pot little banana republic? Is it not like a statement from an Indian minister regarding torture in India?

At the meeting called to initiate dialogue between the Sikh community and members of Parliament, over 400 community members attended a community meeting at Brampton City Hall hosted by the Ontario Sikh and Gurdwaras Council and Ontario Gurdwara Committee in partnership with the World Sikh Organization of Canada to discuss the .  the 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada.

The meeting was only attended by Ruby Sahota (Liberal), Garnett Genuis (CPC) and Raj Grewal (Independent). NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also attended and made a statement.

The MPs present at the community meeting furthermore affirmed that they would work with the community to ensure Sikh representation be included on the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security.

Many in attendance expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the matter has been handled by the Government of Canada and expressed fears that the Report would have long term negative repercussions for the community.

It may also be pointed out that only one Parliamentarian attended the meet and the rest from shied away from this unique town hall gathering of Sikh community leaders and activists.

The section on “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” is deeply hurtful and we still do not have any explanation as to why it was added and why it continues to remain in the Report.  Simply adding an Addendum but leaving the Report unchanged is not enough.”

Mukhbir Singh, President, World Sikh Organisation of Canada

Taking umbrage at Minister Goodale’s statement, the WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “it is unfortunate that while Minister Goodale recognizes that the 2018 Public Safety Report maligned certain communities, including the Sikh community, and is not in line with Canadian values, the Report remains unchanged and continues to contain the offensive sections.

The section on “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” is deeply hurtful and we still do not have any explanation as to why it was added and why it continues to remain in the Report.  Simply adding an Addendum but leaving the Report unchanged is not enough,” he added.

In his statement, Jagmeet Singh said that the NDP had introduced a motion requiring Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to explain why sections targeting specific communities were added to the 2018 Public Safety Report. He told the media that the Minister’s statement was like adding insult to injury.

The Minister’s statement was like adding insult to injury.

Jagmeet Singh, MP, Leader NDP

Meanwhile, at the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ms. Ruby Sahota, Member of Parliament for Brampton North put forward an amendment to Mr. Matthew Dubé motion to invite the Honourable Ralph Goodale, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to appear before committee as soon as possible, to seek clarifications on the 2018 Public Safety Report.

Ottawa 8 April 2019, WSN Canada News Desk
Photo Courtesy: BramptonGuardian.com