Sir,
Last July it came to our attention that the Department of Multiculturalism is looking to start a new organization that they propose to call the “Sikh Congress”. The Macauliffe Institute in Toronto has been given seventy five thousand dollars to do a feasibility study to see how best to implement this “great idea”. We have written Gerry Weiner the minister on several occasions asking why he felt it was necessary to do this we have the World Sikh Organization working for Sikhs. We have also countless other small organizations and associations. We do not need the Tory Government to start a new organization telling Sikhs how they should behave. It is our Opinion that this is unwarranted meddling in our affairs. It is a ploy to divide and conquer. It may be a scary thought but could it be that our minister of Foreign Affairs is taking lessons from the government of India?
The latest we have heard from-the “Sikh Congress” is a 65 page report on completion of Phase 1. It would appear that they will certainly accomplish what they have set out to do. We still have serious reservations on the whole matter. We cannot believe that the government believes it has anything to gain by trying to put a muzzle on the Sikh community. By creating a new organization they will be undermining our effectiveness. When they want to know Sikh opinion they will then be able to get it from their own stooges. You can be sure that nothing will ever be said against India for that may embarrass their great ally and sister Commonwealth country. The word Khalistan will be forbidden vocabulary and the WSO will be a “radical” group not worth mentioning.
We are still lobbying against the whole concept but things don’t appear to be too promising.
Ram R.S Chahal
President
WSO Canada.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 5, 1991
