Canadian-Sikh MLA killed in mishap

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 24

Manmeet Bhullar (35), Conservative Party MLA from Calgary-Greenway in Canada, died in a tragic crash on the Queen Elizabeth II highway near Edmonton on Tuesday.

Born and brought up in Calgary, Bhullar belonged to a family from Raiya village in Amritsar. He was chosen the youngest MLA from Alberta in 2008. He also served as Service Alberta Minister in 20011 and Human Services Minister in 2013.

Talking to The Tribune over the phone, his father Baljinder Singh said his son left the world doing what he loved doing the most – helping others in difficult situation. “Manmeet was on his way to Edmonton after delivering a speech at the University of Calgary when he got down from his car near just short of Edmonton to assist an accident victim on the roadside. The move proved fatal as an over-speeding truck coming from behind hit him,” said the aggrieved father.

The incident has left the family completely shattered. It is yet to ascertain whether Bhullar died on the spot or was alive for some time after the accident. His sister Harjinder Kaur said the family members would only meet the hospital authorities tomorrow to know the details of the accident.

Bhullar was known to be a compassionate person and felt strong concern for the Sikh community.

Jasvir Gil, former president, Punjab NRI Sabha, said Manmeet during his visit to Punjab in 2013 offered free air ambulance service to search for four Sikh families from Canada who went missing during Kedarnath floods.

His friend and social activist Amarjit Singh Anand from Jalandhar said Bhullar had recently filed a petition with the Canadian government seeking asylum for around 300 Sikh families from Afghanistan.

His death has sent the entire province in a state of mourning. Flags on provincial buildings were lowered to half-mast until sunset in view of Bhullar’s funeral.