1984
Canadian Lawmaker Denied Entry into India:
Jagmeet Singh
NEWS REPORT
Sikh-Canadian MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament) of Ontario has been
denied a visa by India for his visit to Amritsar to attend a ceremony by
two NGOs which selected him for "Sikh of the Year" Award.
He
has also received an email from the Indian Consulate in Toronto
confirming that he was being denied permission to travel to India.
Jagmeet Singh, a young lawyer representing the Bramalea-Gore-Malton constituency in
Ontario, is one of dozens of Sikh-Canadians who have served, and now serve in the federal and provincial parliaments of Canada. However, he is the first Khalsa to be elected to the Ontario legislature and is oft hailed in the national and international press not only for his astute and progressive work as a legislator but also for his trendy, sartorial style which has attracted the attention of prestigious fashion magazines, journals and TV shows.
"The Indian government is apparently annoyed with me for strongly raising
a voice for justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms. I have also been
pushing the issue that these were not 'riots' (as the Indian media slavishly labels them) between two communities,
instead it was a state sponsored massacre," Jagmeet Singh said.
"I had applied for a visa to attend the award
ceremony on December 24, 2013 but have been told by the Indian embassy
officials that the Ministry of Home Affairs of India did not clear my
visit," he added.
"As a human rights lawyer, I have been
speaking out on the issue of human rights pertaining to all communities.
I have maintained that the word 'riot' is a misnomer for what happened in
November 1984. It insults India's Hindus as many among them
saved a number of lives of Sikhs during the pogroms. It was a Congress-sponsored mass
killing," he added.
Jagmeet Singh was recently instrumental in the passage of a
law, which henceforth recognizes the month of April every year as Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario.
"The
province will recognize the month of April as the month to celebrate
Sikhism as a unique and distinct religion. This was a great honour to
the Sikh-Canadian community and Sikhs around the world. This was the first law of its type in the
history of Canada and one of the first laws of its kind in the world,"
he said.
"I was selected to receive the 'Sikh of the Year' award
from two organizations, SEWA and the International Fateh Academy. The award
ceremony took place on December 24 in Amritsar. Earlier this year, I
travelled to India for about a month from January to February, 2013. However
when I applied for a visa to travel to India to attend the award
ceremony now, I was denied."
This is not the first time that India has willy nilly denied a visa to political leaders from abroad -- Sikh, non-Sikh and non-Indian -- who have raised concern over the blatant and pervasive human rights violations in India, especially by its governments and authorities.
December 27, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: N Singh (Canada), December 27, 2013, 2:18 PM.
I hope this will not dissuade him and he will carry on the excellent job he has been doing for the victims of 1984, the Sikh community in Canada, and for Ontarians and Canadians overall. Here is what has appeared about him on the internet: "This is very unfortunate that the man whose forefathers sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle of India had been refused a visa to visit India for a noble cause ... one of Jagmeet Singh's uncles (brother of father, Sardar Shivcharan Singh sacrificed his life in the Indo-Pak war in 1972 and his second uncle Gurdatar Singh retired as General from the Indian Army. S. Jagmeet Singh is a grand son of martyr Sewa Singh Theekriwal whose martyrdom day is being celebrated by the Governments of India and Punjab every year ..." Thank you, Jagmeet Singh. We appreciate everything you and your family have done!
2: Harinder (Punjab), December 27, 2013, 2:40 PM.
We should tread carefully and not get provoked easily by the injustices of the evil empire.
3: Sikandar Kang (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), December 27, 2013, 3:39 PM.
I think the Indian government is mishandling the issue with the Sikhs considerably. Denying Jagmeet Singh a visa is nothing more than a political game by the current Indian establishment. We live in a global economy and it is in India's economic benefit to strengthen relationships with people of Indian origin in positions of influence ... such as Jagmeet Singh. It is foolish and myopic for the current Indian rulers to vilify this relationship. India has more to lose than gain from denying Jagmeet entry into the country ... even if he is a critic. In fact, especially since he is a critic!
4: Manpreet Singh (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), December 27, 2013, 4:42 PM.
India is nothing but full of corrupt government agencies and idiots.
5: Balvir Singh (Kuraby, Australia), December 27, 2013, 7:33 PM.
The Indian government just wants to hide its sins. Denying a visa is only to prevent the world's scrutiny.
6: Kulwant Singh (U.S.A.), December 28, 2013, 8:55 AM.
India doesn't care for human rights. Please keep these Western ideals off their shores. India is a land where people can kill, rape and plunder with impunity. In India, if you are rich and well connected, you can get away with murder ... literally! Obviously, they want to keep the status quo. Let's not impose our foreign ideals on their culture. Jai Hind!
7: Sunny Grewal (Abbotsford, Britisg Columbia, Canada), December 28, 2013, 11:53 AM.
You would think with a billion people in that miserable country, there would be at least one person to point out how incredibly stupid this action by the Indian government is. Denying Jagmeet Singh a visa is an admission of guilt by the Indian government. I really hope that we can make this point clear in the western media. As far as I am concerned, the Indian government has just officially confirmed its role in the pogroms of 1984.
8: Mohinder Singh (Canada), December 28, 2013, 2:33 PM.
The question that must be asked is, why are other Sikh politicians getting the red carpet treatment while visiting India? Sikh-Canadian voters should question the 'red carpet' Sikh politicians about their response and actions that they have taken in answer to this unethical, inhumane treatment of this outstanding Sikh-Canadian politician. The Sikh-Canadian media (who have sold their souls to the devil) are responsible for this action. Sikh voters must question their elected representatives and get them to reciprocate this action against Indians officials who are begging to visit Canada.
9: Raj (Canada), December 30, 2013, 11:43 PM.
I'm so proud of these new generations of Sikhs - with the likes of Preet Singh Bharara and Jagmeet Singh. They have guts to stand tall for what they believe is right. We have to remember that India has a deep inferiority complex, which translates into the need to even stare down the mighty US. Just watch how they will try to finagle their way out of this mess and, as always, make utter fools of themselves.
10: Harmander Singh (Great Britain), December 31, 2013, 4:30 PM.
Jagmeet Singh should consider himself lucky to be denied a visa - many good people have simply disappeared upon arrival in that country. As for (Mr/Mrs? - sorry cannot tell gender without Kaur/Singh in a name) Grewal's point about a billion stupid people in the country - that is not fair or accurate as most of them seem to have found a way to come over to mine - illegally.
11: Manpreet Singh (Canton, Ohio, USA), January 02, 2014, 12:34 AM.
We are running away from that country and Jagmeet Singh of such high cadre is going back to that hell? Just to receive an award? we cannot afford to lose him. So many good people from our quom visited India and were arrested under fake cases. They are still in jails. In an internet savvy world, he can do video conference and receive the award. Please don't travel to India! No one should any more, if one doesn't need to.
12: Toy Yerex (Sandy Hook, British Columbia, Canada), March 20, 2016, 10:16 AM.
Sounds reminiscent of our previous PM here in Canada (Stephen Harper). Sadly, I mourn for the fate of the Sri Lankans whose boats were turned around by the Coast Guard, on Harper's orders ... after Harper treated the one boatload who made it into Canada like illegal immigrants, even when they had a perfect right to enter Canada as they did per the UN treaty which Canada signed! And, our sending 207 Jews back to Nazi Germany in 1939 to certain deaths in concentration camps. And our treatment of the Sikhs in the Komagata Maru incident (for which Harper apologized in 2006.) And innumerable others. Illegal, immoral or unjustified use of power by governments should be made punishable under UN laws.