AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The first Sikh Canadian Defence Minister S. Harjit Singh Sajjan will pay obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum Sri Harmandir Sahib on April 20. He will reach at Sri Amritsar Sahib in the evening of April 19 and will pay obeisance at the central Sikh shrine on April 20.
As per the program shared by Canadian High Commission, Harjit Singh Sajjan will spend April 20 & 21 in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Chandigarh. S. Harjit Singh Sajjan hails from a village in Hoshiarpur district where he still has some relatives. He will meet his family members during these two days and will also attend a party being hosted by the Canadian High Commission in Chandigarh. On April 22, he will meet the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, along with Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister of India and Army Chiefs in New Delhi.
Sikh24 has learnt that a team of Canadian security officials have reached Sri Amritsar Sahib where the Apex Sikh body SGPC was making special arrangements for the primary visit of S. Harjit Singh Sajjan after becoming Defence Minister of Canada. The SGPC will also honour the Canadian Defence Minister in a specially organized program.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh has come under fire of Sikh masses for releasing a statement to not attend S. Harjit Singh Sajjan by terming him a Khalistan sympathizer. Even the Canadian High Commission has criticized the Captain Amarinder Singh for releasing such a statement.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and President of Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Badal has termed Captain Amarinder Singh’s stand as an irresponsible act. “Captain’s such stand can affect the bilateral ties between Punjab and Canada,” he added.
Pro-freedom Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa has also questioned Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s remark by saying that if S. Harjit Singh Sajjan was a Khalistani sympathiser, then why has India decided to hold talks with him?
Dal Khalsa President S. Harcharanjit Singh Dhami has taunted on the Captain’s remark by saying that it would be really interesting and amazing to see Indian leadership engaging and talking with Khalistani sympathizers officially at the diplomatic level.