This is not racism

Racism, as it is widely understood, is a charge that can hardly stick if one sees the standoff between Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and former Defence Minister Jason Kenney in Canada’s Parliament over Afghanistan in its particular context. A key issue that has engaged Canadian politicians — the ruling Liberals as well as the Tories in opposition — is: “Did we go into Afghanistan ‘for no reason?’ Or were we too slow to go after ISIS?” When Sajjan gave what Tories felt was an “incoherent” answer, Kenney sought an “English-to-English” translation. The remark, subsequently misinterpreted by Liberals to suit their politics and played up in Indian media as racist, was prompted by an apparent lack of clarity in Sajjan's response. One need not give a racist colour to it. 

It is a Canadian issue and should be treated as such. Sajjan and his ministerial colleagues, who have their roots in Punjab, are capable of defending themselves. Had the Canadian system been discriminatory or racist, the Sikh ministers would not have got the key posts they have. Sajjan has occupied that position not because he is a Sikh but because he is a decorated soldier and is valued for his understanding of Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. Heckling is no offence. Indian politicians are known for doing worse in the name of debate. The Indian media need not have projected a spat in Canadian Parliament as a sort of racist attack on a Sikh.

Sikh politicians and activists often get sucked into non-issues at the cost of bigger problems facing the community such as illegal migration by unemployed youth and attacks on Sikhs due to a mistaken identity, something that even President Obama has chosen to speak about. Punjab politicians, including Chief Minister Badal and Capt Amarinder Singh, have stirred a needless controversy over the “absence” of Sikh soldiers in the Republic Day parade, which has been denied by the BJP. Akalis and Congressmen have played the Sikh card to promote their political interests but it only deflects attention from the more pressing issues the community is faced with. Lack of development in Punjab should concern them more.