By Bhupinder S. Liddar OTTAWA: Canada’s Solicitor ‘General Herb Gray told the Canadian Parliament that the treaty be signed in Ottawa Oct.25 with Indian Home Affairs Minister S.B. Chavan “is not intended to infringe basic rights of anyone.”

Gray was responding to a question in the House of Commons by Liberal MP Gurbax Singh Malhi in which he sought assurances that the legal agreement between Canada and India will not in any Way impinge on the basic nights of Canadians. Malhi told Parliament that some lawabiding Canadians are Concerned that this last treaty may subject them to further harassment.

In an interview Malhi stated that he had spoken to the Solicitor General earlier to ensure that law-abiding Canadians of Indian origin would not become targets of unnecessary harassment.

At the signing ceremony Solicitor General Herb Gray stated that he was very pleased with the desire of both Canada and India to cooperate in law enforcement matters.

The Indian Home Affairs Minister Chavan responded that it was a “historic treaty” which is going to lead curbing activities of “undesirable activities by various groups.” Chavan added that the treaty helps create proper “psychological climate” and will Provide the necessary “legal backing for the extradition treaty” already in existence between the two countries.

Among those attending the signing of the treaty were Indian High Commissioner Prem Budhwar, Political Affairs Counselor Nechal Sandhu and Bryan Burton Of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Dependent.

Over a hundred Canadians, mostly Sikhs, demonstrated on Parliament Hill against the visit by Indian Home Affairs Minister and denounced the Indian government for continuing human rights violations in India. In addressing the demonstration, Malhi promised to obtain details of the legal agreement and also speak about the human rights violations in the Punjab.

A spokesperson for the World Sikh Organization stated that the demonstration was 0 protest the continuing human rights abuses perpetrated against minorities in India.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 28, 1994