1st March 2018 • article
Canadian Conservatives dump their motion on Khalistani 'extremism' after criticism from Sikhs
Image: Wikimedia image, by Ian Muttoo. Some rights reserved.
The Conservative Party of Canada was due to introduce a motion in Parliament today criticising 'Khalistani extremism' and calling on MPs to 'stand with a united India'.
But the motion was widely seen as a ploy to put pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and had been criticised as "political posturing" and an attempt to "tarnish" Sikhs.
(The motion has now been pulled. More details at the end of the article.)
Last night the Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, shadow minister for citizenship and immigration, tweeted, "In light of Trudeau’s disastrous trip to India, and the tensions it’s inflamed, and the negative questions about Canada that it’s raised, the Conservatives are putting forward the following motion for debate tomorrow."
This is the motion in full:
"That the House: (a) value the contribution of Canadian Sikhs and Canadians of Indian origin in our national life; (b) condemn in the strongest terms all forms of terrorism, including Khalistani extremism and the glorification of any individuals who have committed acts of violence to advance the cause of an independent Khalistani state in Canada; and (c) stand with a united India."
The motion is unlikely to be supported by the governing Liberal Party or the NDP, headed by Jagmeet Singh.
The reaction from Canadian Sikhs was not positive either.
One tweeted:
The World Sikh Organisation (WSO) of Canada tweeted:
Its board member Jaskaran Singh Sandhu told Michelle Rempel MP: "You are singling out a single community with this motion, with no nuance or appreciation to the threats to a united India, and the secular Indian state. What recent Khalistani "extremist" act can you pinpoint that warrants a sudden motion like this from @ErinOTooleMP?"
WSO's President Mukhbir Singh added: "No consultation with any Sikh group. This is all political posturing. There hasn't been Khalistan related violence for the past 20+ year. The community has moved on, this is about marginalizing Sikhs in Canada."
Criticism also came from the California-based group Jakara Movement:
Barfi Culture has contacted the NDP for a statement on its position.
Update: This morning the Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai emailed colleagues to say the motion had been delayed. He added it was likely to be introduced in two weeks time, when Parliament resumes.
The motion was pulled after an intensive lobbying operation from Canadian Sikhs. Letters to the leader of the Conservative Party, Andrew Scheer MP, were sent by groups representing Gurdwaras in BC and Ontario, as well as groups such as the WSO.
WSO tweeted: "We have received confirmation that @CPC_HQ has pulled the controversial motion. We are grateful for the dedication of the community and appreciate the ability to have a positive dialogue with public legislators."
But the motion was widely seen as a ploy to put pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and had been criticised as "political posturing" and an attempt to "tarnish" Sikhs.
(The motion has now been pulled. More details at the end of the article.)
Last night the Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, shadow minister for citizenship and immigration, tweeted, "In light of Trudeau’s disastrous trip to India, and the tensions it’s inflamed, and the negative questions about Canada that it’s raised, the Conservatives are putting forward the following motion for debate tomorrow."
This is the motion in full:
"That the House: (a) value the contribution of Canadian Sikhs and Canadians of Indian origin in our national life; (b) condemn in the strongest terms all forms of terrorism, including Khalistani extremism and the glorification of any individuals who have committed acts of violence to advance the cause of an independent Khalistani state in Canada; and (c) stand with a united India."
The motion is unlikely to be supported by the governing Liberal Party or the NDP, headed by Jagmeet Singh.
The reaction from Canadian Sikhs was not positive either.
One tweeted:
So apparently @CPC_HQ is doubling down that Sikh extremists are the problem with India.
— shinda singh (@shindasingh) February 28, 2018
You'd think that the BJP government the one in bed with the RSS, you know the group that believes in the ethnic cleansing of non Hindu's would be a-top that list, but apparently not. https://t.co/SpafRO3wdR
The World Sikh Organisation (WSO) of Canada tweeted:
This sort of political rhetoric will damage the reputation of Canadian Sikhs in the public eye and hurt the community immensely, particularly our youth. https://t.co/lsa7ktmpYh
— World Sikh Org (@WorldSikhOrg) March 1, 2018
Its board member Jaskaran Singh Sandhu told Michelle Rempel MP: "You are singling out a single community with this motion, with no nuance or appreciation to the threats to a united India, and the secular Indian state. What recent Khalistani "extremist" act can you pinpoint that warrants a sudden motion like this from @ErinOTooleMP?"
WSO's President Mukhbir Singh added: "No consultation with any Sikh group. This is all political posturing. There hasn't been Khalistan related violence for the past 20+ year. The community has moved on, this is about marginalizing Sikhs in Canada."
Criticism also came from the California-based group Jakara Movement:
Canadian Conservative party believes it can take the #Sikh community back to its place in the 1980s. They will fail and in their attempts to tarnish an entire community, they will lose all Sikh support for a full generation.
— Jakara Movement (@JakaraMovement) March 1, 2018
Barfi Culture has contacted the NDP for a statement on its position.
Update: This morning the Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai emailed colleagues to say the motion had been delayed. He added it was likely to be introduced in two weeks time, when Parliament resumes.
The motion was pulled after an intensive lobbying operation from Canadian Sikhs. Letters to the leader of the Conservative Party, Andrew Scheer MP, were sent by groups representing Gurdwaras in BC and Ontario, as well as groups such as the WSO.
WSO tweeted: "We have received confirmation that @CPC_HQ has pulled the controversial motion. We are grateful for the dedication of the community and appreciate the ability to have a positive dialogue with public legislators."
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