Both Indian and Canadian Governments should hold talks to diffuse the crisis-Ujjal Dosanjh
Harshabab Sidhu
Kasauli (HP), October 14, 2023: A former Canadian minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who has also been a premier of British Columbia today suggested that both the Indian and the Canadian governments should hold talks to diffuse the ongoing crisis in the interest of common people and suggested India to relax visa restrictions in view of the festive season.
In a session at the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival here ,Dosanjh, in conversation with Kim Lalli on the topic, The Ties That Divide Us, felt that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau " might have jumped the gun by holding Indian agencies responsible for the killing of Khalistan activist Nijjar" for some reasons but the relations between countries should not have been strained so much.
Dosanjh who also talked about his book, The Past Is Never Dead, tracing his journey from a remote village in Punjab to Canada in his early twenties he asserted that since he carried both cultures along he seriously wanted the Indo-Canadian relations to get normal as soon as possible.
Talking about the activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada his stand had always been clear. If the Khalistanis want to express their mind and ideas, it is fine, but when they resort to violence it needs the strongest condemnation.
Dosanjh also wanted the Canadian government to ensure that there was no disturbance of peace. Moreover, Canada must control such elements which propagate dismemberment of another friendly democratic country. More importantly, the Khalistani elements should come to Punjab in India if they were so bent upon promoting the idea of Khalistan.
A big majority of Sikhs in Canada, he said, were not in favour of Khalistan. It was just a small section of them, who have gone from Punjab, who were making it an issue.
The second day of the three-day festival started with a session of the 1971 war hero Maj Gen (Rtd) Iyan Cardozo who was in conversation with Sara Jacob recalling the circumstances and the challenges he faced during the war.