Harjit Singh Sajjan receives warm welcome in Amritsar

First Sikh Canadian Defence Minister S. Harjit Singh Sajjan arrived in the holy city Sri Amritsar Sahib. His arrival at Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport witnessed a warm welcome treat by the common Sikh masses as well as Sikh activists of various organizations even though no representative of the state government was present there.  As the Deputy commissioner Amritsar Kamaldeep Singh Sangha was not in the city, Ajnala sub-divisional magistrate Anupreet Kaur received the dignitary at the Airport.

Harjit Singh Sajjan on Thursday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar where he was honoured by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The visiting dignitary spent close to an hour at the premises and then left for his native village, Bambeli in Hoshiarpur.

The SGPC as per traditions, honoured Mr. Sajjan by presenting with a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour), shawl and set of religious books.

“Mr. Sajjan is a senior dignitary of Canada, who has done commendable work for his community and the country..It is a proud moment for all as we honour him,” said SGPC Head, Kirpal Singh Badungar, who was present at the holy Sikh shrine.

Earlier in New Delhi, Sajjan sought to play down the controversy saying that he did not want the break-up of any country. The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have welcomed Sajjan to Punjab and have condemned Amarinder Singh for his stand on the Canadian Minister.

A recent motion by the Ontario Legislature condemning 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as a “genocide” has led to some uncomfortable conversations for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan as he visits the country of his birth. In a conference call with reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sajjan said the matter came up in meeting with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Sajjan, who immigrated to Canada from India with his family when he was five years old, downplayed any tension brought about by the motion’s passage on April 6, but also sought to put distance between the federal and provincial wings of the Liberal Party. “We had to remind my counterparts that, the Ontario Legislature is a provincially, democratically-elected body,” Sajjan said. “It was a private member’s motion. The Liberal Party of Ontario is not the federal Liberal Party,” he added.

His visit is being closely followed by Indians, Indo Canadians and defence minister has been posting regular updates on Facebook too.

In one such post he mentioned that External Affairs Minister of India Ms Sushma Swaraj, has been an extraordinary leader and role model.

“Today was our last day in Delhi, and I feel so honoured by the kind welcome I received. I met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, an extraordinary leader and role model. The Canada-India bilateral relationship is strong and I look forward to further growing the ties that bind us together as two countries dedicated to peace.”

While he was in Amritsar, an artist from Ludhiana Rajinder Kumar presented a painting to the defence minister.