Minister VVIP guest for Centre

Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, APRIL 15

As Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan arrives in India next week, different political hues are being given to him by Punjab even as New Delhi welcomes him as a dignitary. 

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has accused Sajjan of being a Khalistan sympathiser and has said he will not be meeting him when Sajjan travels to Punjab. On the contrary, the Centre and the Ministry of External Affairs are getting ready to roll out the red carpet, citing his many meritorious credentials. 

Sources point to Sajjan's credentials as a retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian armed forces and a combat veteran. 

Indications are that the Centre will let the Punjab CM stick to his views but the MEA will host Sajjan here as a VVIP guest. The recent passage in the Ontario legislative assembly which describes the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as 'genocide' and now the visit of a Sajjan, being labelled pro-Khalistan has revived painful memories for the state.