Disquiet in India over genocide motion on ’84 riots, says Jaitley
minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday told his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan that there was “considerable disquiet” in India over a motion passed by the Ontario assembly describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as genocide.
Defence ministry sources said Jaitley raised the issue strongly with the Canadian defence minister, emphasising that the language used in the motion passed in early April was “unreal and exaggerated”.
The private members’ motion was moved by Harinder Malhi, the member of provincial parliament (MPP) from the riding (as constituencies are called in Canada) of Brampton-Springdale, near Toronto.
“The Canadian delegation was told that this sort of questioning of India’s democratic credentials was not in line with the relationship between the two countries,” sources said, adding that Sajjan disassociated himself from the resolution, saying it was a private member’s motion and didn’t reflect the Canadian government’s view.
Sajjan’s week-long visit to the country has been mired in controversy with Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh refusing to meet the Canadian minister, calling him a “Khalistani sympathiser”.
Responding to a question related to Khalistani terror, Sajjan said he did not want to be sucked into the internal politics of any country. He also said he did not promote the breaking up of any country. “My goal is to build relationships as representative of the Canadian government and that is what I am here to do ,” he said at a function.