Canadian parliament condemns Sikh extremism
April 29th, 2010 - 11:39 am ICT by IANS
Toronto, April 29 (IANS) In yet another warning to pro-Khalistan elements, the Canadian parliament Wednesday passed a resolution condemning threats by radicals to top Indo-Canadian leader and former health minister Ujjal Dosanjh.
A moderate Sikh who became premier of Canada’s British Columbia province in 2000,Dosanjh has been a staunch opponent of radical Sikhs in Canada since the 1980s when the pro-Khalistan movement was at its peak in India and Canada.
Two weeks ago, Sikh hardliners warned Dosanjh against attending a Vaisakhi parade in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey. The threat led to outrage among Indo-Canadians and condemnation by Canadian leaders and the media.
After that incident, death threats against him appeared on Facebook.
The Canadian parliament passed a motion in support of the Indo-Canadian leader Wednesday. Passing the motion unanimously, the House said all its members “stand united in condemning any form of extremism that incites violence in Canadian society, and re-affirm the rights of elected officials to freely express their views without fear of personal intimidation.”
Thanking the House, Dosanjh said, “I want to express my sincerest appreciation for the unanimous support of all my colleagues in the House of Commons in what is a very difficult situation for my family and I.
“This expression of support from parliamentarians of all political parties reaffirms individual rights, including those of the public officials to freely express themselves without fear of threats, intimidation, or violence.”
The House resolution condemning Sikh hardliners comes two days after the Canadian government said that Sikh violence will not tolerated.
Making the statement in the House Monday, Indian-origin parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs Deepak Obhrai had said that his government “strongly condemns the recent threats of violence made by extremists within the Canadian Sikh community.
This is unacceptable.”
Canada is home more about half a million Sikhs, with a very minute section of the community still supporting demand for a independent Sikh nation called Khalistan.
- Canada warns Sikh radicals against violence - Apr 27, 2010
- Khalistani flags, slogans raised at Vancouver Vaisakhi parade - Apr 18, 2010
- Khalistanis want Indo-Canadian leader assassinated - Apr 24, 2010
- Air India victims echo judge's remarks on Sikh radicals - May 12, 2011
- Police probing 'very serious' threats against Indo-Canadian leader Dosanjh - Apr 24, 2010
- 25 years on, few takers for Khalistan in Canada - Oct 31, 2009
- India warned about growing Khalistani pockets in Canada - Apr 17, 2010
- Canadian parliament may see more Indian-origin MPs - Apr 26, 2011
- India will have to change gameplan to fight terror: Indo-Canadian leader - Jul 15, 2011
- Dosanjh, Dhalla lose as Canada's ruling party gets majority - May 03, 2011
- Top Indo-Canadian MPs lost in Canadian elections - May 04, 2011
- Canadian PM joins oldest Vaisakhi parade in North America - Apr 17, 2011
- Indo-Canadian MPs defeated in Canadian polls - May 04, 2011
- Sikh MP's bill gets National Holocaust Monument for Canada - Dec 12, 2010
- Defamation suit against Indian-origin Canadian MP - Nov 27, 2010
Tags: canadian leader, canadian leaders, canadian parliament, death threats, extremism, former health, hardliners, health minister, incident death, indian origin, khalistan movement, parliamentarians, parliamentary secretary, personal intimidation, premier of canada, sikh community, sikhs in canada, ujjal dosanjh, unanimous support, vancouver suburb