Canadian politician narrates ‘ordeal’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 21

A Canadian citizen and Liberal Party member Paramjit Singh Randhawa, who had also come to Golden Temple on his own today, said he was once a part of the blacklisted Sikhs in Canada.

He said that though he had got a clean chit, he faced hardships in procuring visa to visit India. He has come to India for the first time since 1985.

According to him, there must be around 10 Sikhs in Canada who have been included in the blacklist. “I hail from Tharu village in Tarn Taran. Later, I pursued my higher education from Khalsa College and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. I had migrated to Richmond City in 1980. Post 1984 genocide, I was hurt and launched a crusade against atrocities. I was refused visa for the first time in 1985 and could not even procure one in 2001 when my mother Swarn Kaur expired in India during Akalis’ regime. I was denied visa on six other occasions as I was associated with a member of Canadian Parliament from the New Democratic Party (NDP) who was opposed by Indian consulate general. Luckily, I got visa on arrival at Delhi airport only and could come here today,” he added.