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Parliament feels Kanishka heat
The A-I case had its echo when the Canadian House recommended a public inquiry, writes Gurmukh Singh.
There was a lot of Indian news in Canada this week.
In the nation's parliament, the Air-India case had its echo once again when the House debated and then okayed a motion seeking a public inquiry into the 1985 bombing.
The motion, moved by Indo-Canadian MP Gurmant Grewal, generated so much heat in the House that at one time the leader of the Opposition Conservative Party, Stephen Harper, had to say that the government would have reacted differently if the victims had been white Canadians.
A defensive Prime Minister Paul Martin shrugged off these accusations.
Outside the House, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan met with some of the relatives of the Kanishka bombing to know what more could be done to satisfy them after the British Columbian Supreme Court in Vancouver last month acquitted the two suspects --Ripduman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri-- for lack of evidence.
On the other hand, the Crown or prosecution counsel in Vancouver, who are sifting through the 600-page verdict and had till April 16 to appeal the verdict, got more time till May 13 to appeal against the acquittals.
Amid all this, it is surprising that no one raised the issue of compensation for the victims. Aren't victims around the world compensated by governments? Even in the Lockerbie case, Libya has given millions of dollars to the families of the victims. Is it because of the fear of huge compensations that the Canadian government is reluctant to order a public inquiry? One cannot say anything for certain.
It is springtime in this cold country. Though Baisakhi celebrations, including parades, are a permanent feature in many cities across North America, Vancouver created history this year by organising the biggest parade involving more than 70,000 people.
It was a sunny bright day in the otherwise cloudy weather as the long procession wound its way through Surrey which is home to the largest South Asian population in North America.
Floats depicting different aspects of Punjabi rural life and the Sikh religion were the most attractive part of the parade. Virtually every home had set up a free kitchen or langar in front of it. One could see whites and Chinese joining in the feast. Televisions featured the parade prominently as did the newspapers.
In view of the next month's provincial elections, leaders of all hues too pitched their tent in the parade town. British Columbian Premier Gordon Campbell was there with his ministers and MLAs as were Opposition leader Carole James and MPs like Gurmant Grewal.
Interestingly, the country's most famous Indo-Canadian judge, Wally Oppal, who last week quit his $200,000-yearly job at the Supreme Court to join politics, opened his political innings by appearing at the Baisakhi parade.
In the nation's parliament in Ottawa, MP Gurbax Singh Malhi, kept up his annual tradition of conducting an akhand path on Baisakhi this year as well. Initiated in 1994 after he became the first turbaned Sikh MP in the West, Malhi's Baisakhi programme is attended by all leaders, including the Prime Minister.
In fact, this year the Baiskahi celebrations in parliament began last week when over 300 VIPs, including MPs, ambassadors and high commissioners, prominent Canadians and Canadians of other faiths, attended a gala function.
Prime Minister Paul Martin and Opposition leader Stephen Harper, who could not come because they had to attend the Pope's funeral, were represented by Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and Conservative Party MP Stockwell Day respectively.
In his message, which was read by Bhupinder Liddar, chair of the celebration committee, the Prime Minister said, "The Canadian-Sikh community can take great pride in the many contributions that they have made to the growth of our country. It is my hope that you will continue to foster such fellowship within your own community and abroad, while contributing to a strong and harmonious Canada."
Speaking for the Prime Minister, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said the Sikh faith and the Khalsa stood for the ideals and traditions that Canadians share. The principles of equality, selfless service and justice that symbolise the Sikh faith, he said, are also found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Speaking for Stephen Harper, Stockwell Day said what the Sikh community brought to Canada "makes us a better people to have a greater understanding of things that matter most.'' He said the Sikhs are literally in almost every area of Canadian life. "You enrich our communities. You make it a better place to live and we are thankful for that," he added.
New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton said: "It will be a wonderful day when a motion could be adopted in the House of Commons to recognise the five Sikhs symbols."
His party MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis has moved a motion in parliament to give proper recognition and respect for Sikhism and an equal place for Sikhs in Canada. It is not a partisan question. It is a question of doing what is right and perhaps in this Parliament we will be able to see that day. And then, it will be even a better Baisakhi celebration," he said.
Bhupinder Liddar, who had organised the first Baisakhi celebration way back in 1987, told the gathering -- which had all South Asian MPs, except Ujjal Dosanjh and Ruby Dhalla -- that Punjabi was the fourth largest spoken language of Canada and this celebration was a fitting tribute to the community and its contribution to Canada.
They are not yet finished as more cities take out parades this weekend.
