Canada tremors in Punjab, Badal visit put off

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 29: The arrests of two Canadian Sikhs suspected to be involved in the Kanishka blast seemed to have stalled the propos...

CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 29: The arrests of two Canadian Sikhs suspected to be involved in the Kanishka blast seemed to have stalled the proposed Canada tour of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Officials today confirmed that the visit has been postponed on the advice of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Special Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office and the Secretary, Information and Public Relations, Sarvesh Kaushal said: “The proposed foreign visit of the Punjab Chief Minister has been postponed for the time being on the advice of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.”

The Chief Minister was to leave for Canada on a 10-day tour beginning November 1. This is the second time that the proposed tour is being postponed. Earlier the tour was planned for September, but was rescheduled in view of the paddy crisis. Officials, however, did not confirm a direct link between the arrests of two Indo-Canadians and the CM’s visit.

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Reports have indicated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has probed the linkage of some prominent Punjab politicians with some militants based in Canada. Coupled with it has been attempts made by Punjab politicians to facilitate the visit of former militants in Punjab who are avoiding coming to India due to the ongoing police cases against them. With increased media attention on the Sikh community in Canada, the visit of the CM would have attracted undue attention.

The visit was on an invitation of the premier of British Columbia and a Punjabi immigrant, Ujjal Dosanjh. Ripudaman Singh Malik who was arrested by the RCMP is one of the most well known Sikhs in British Columbia.

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