Harper defends Canadian Sikhs, advocating for Khalistan no crime

Friday, 09/11/2012

http://punjabnewsline.com/news/Harper-defends-Canadian-Sikhs_-advocating-for-Khalistan-no-crime.html

CHANDIGARH:Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper while commenting on the issue of Sikh separatists in Canada, said advocating for Khalistan by the community is not a crime.The Indian government had discussed the issue with Harper pressing the need to do more about the separatist activity in Canada.

Harper said the issue of violence and terrorism should not be confused with the Canadians having every right to advocate and promote their political views.During his visit to Bangalore, the Canadian Prime Minister said, “It may be a political position that both the government of Canada and the government of India disagree with.”

Coming to the rescue of Canadian Sikhs, Harper said “we can’t interfere with the right of political freedom of expression.”He further added that other political parties in Canada also accede that advocating for a Khalistan homeland in Punjab was not illegal.

Harper said, “The government of Canada’s policy positions on these matters are extremely well known. I believe they are shared across the political spectrum – and they’re not going to change.”Harper’s comments are in complete contrast to the statement made by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird who during his visit to Indian in September had said the Canadian government would do “everything it can possibly do, under the law, to combat radical extremism.”

Later, he had backtracked from his statement saying his remarks seemed to have been taken out of context.Meanwhile, Paul Dewar, the New Demoratic Party’s foreign affairs critic said pro-Khalistan extremism in Canada could harm the country’s Sikh community and wanted Prime Minister Harper to explain his government’s position on the issue.

It is pertinent to mention that though Harper during his visit to India this week, had discussed the issue of Sikh separatists in Canada, he made a point and conveyed to the Punjabi voters in Canada that he does not consider them as extremist, visiting Anandpur Sahib.

 “The government of Canada, and I believe the vast majority of Canadian people, including the vast majority of Indo-Canadians, have no desire to see the revival of old hostilities in this great country,” Harper said.

“I think Prime Minister Harper has stood up for Canadian values. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Canada,” he said. “If anyone is advocating for violence, that would be of grave concern to us as well.”