Punjab CM's Unwelcoming Sajjan Wasn't A Kind Gesture

Amarinder shoots himself in the foot by refusing to meet Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, who met Haryana CM and promised to increase bilateral businesses and also talked to SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar.

- Gurvinder Kaur

Captain Amarinder Singh shot himself in the foot by letting personal pique get in the way of his du-ties as Punjab Chief Minister by refusing to meet Canadian Defence Minister and fellow Sikh Harjit Singh Sajjan. The Akalis too were not to gaga over the visit but gave Sajjan due honour to send out a message to the Punjabi diaspora that they would always own one of their own. Sajjan himself behaved with utmost dignity making it clear that he was on a bilateral visit and represented Canada and not the Punjabi diaspora. He also tried to reach out to the Punjab government but met with a stone wall. He, however, made Punjabis realise their loss by calling on the Haryana Chief Minister, whose residence abuts that of the Punjab CM in Chandigarh, where he was welcomed with open arms and solicited for business.

Lots more happened behind the scenes from the first day when Amarinder let offthe bomb shell that he would not meet Harjit Sajjan or any other Punjabi origion MP of Canada because they supported radicals and espoused the cause of Khalistan. The Punjab CM tried to sell this narrative in the aftermath of a resolution passed by the Ontario legislature which condemned India for his human rights violations including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots which it termed as genocide. Sajjan had nothing to do with the resolution though it was moved by his fellow Liberal party MP Harinder Malhi.

PERSONAL PIQUE