Canadian govt denial on security a new dimension to Sukhbir's visit
Thursday, 29/08/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab/canadian-govt-denial-on-security-a-new-dimension-to-sukhbirs-visit/85751
CHANDIGARH: The denial by the Canadian government about receiving any formal request to provide security cover to the visit of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to that country has added a new dimension to the controversy about the reasons to the cancellation of the visit.
He was to lead a delegation to that country earlier this month. However, the visit was cancelled at the last moment with the reason having been advanced that the Canadian government had expressed its inability to provide adequate security cover. Sukhbir has threat perception from the militants.
It may be mentioned that the separatist groups had announced their decision to stage protest demonstrations against his visit there while the human rights groups proposed to lodge a complaint with the Canadian authorities against Sukhbir for the violations of human rights in Punjab. Under the Canadian law, case can be registered against such an authority in case the rights of a Canadian citizen have been violated in that country. This could lead to arrest.
According to the clarification given by the ministry of external affairs of the Canadian government as appearing in the media in that country, such a request was never received. “We never received a formal request for security, so such a request could not have been refused,” said Jean-Bruno Villeneuve, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to the Canadian media.
It may be mentioned that Sukhbir had reacted strongly saying the Punjab government had made all the security arrangements for the visit of the Canadian Prime Minister to Punjab and it was strange that he had been denied security despite the fact that he was also “head of the state”. He had described the attitude of the Canadian government as unfortunate.
Dal Khalsa, taking strong exception to the controversy regarding the visit, said Sukhbir had bluffed and misled the people and as such, he should quit on moral grounds.
