OTTAWA: Liberal MP Gurbax Singh Malhi has reacted to last week‘s press reports criticizing the two Canadian Sikh MPs for failing to make any statement in the House of Commons on the 10th anniversary of Indian Army’s attack on the Golden Temple. In the interview Malhi also reminded of his efforts to successfully celebrate Vaisakhi on Parliament Hill with conducting of the Akhand Path for the first time in Canadian Parliamentary history ‘This Vaisakhi reception attended by Prime Minister Jean Chretien Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Cops and numerous MPs from ail panties was a most educational expenence for the Canadian Parliamentarians on Sikhs and Sikhism.
Recently Malhi has spoken twice in Parliament about Canadian Legion’s unfortunate decision to ban the warring of turbans in Legion Halls He has offered to visit any constituency at the invitation of the MPs to talk about the Sikh religion and the significance of the turban. Referring specifically to the lack of mention in the House of Commons about the 10th anniversary of the attack on Golden Temple Malhi stated that he had seen the name of the other Sikh MP Herb Dhaliwal on the list of speakers and assumed that the Vancouver ‘Liberal MP maybe wishing to Speak for the first time on a Sikh related issue But when it came time to make the statement Dhaliwal spoke not about Operation Bluestar but about the passing away of Tom Good a former MP from British Columbia.
Malhi was the only MP to speak at the Sikh demonstration on Parliament Hill on June 4 the next day he spoke at Gurdwaras in Malton Scarborough and Mississauga and on June 6 joined other MPs at a dinner to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attack on the Golden Temple.
According to Malhi last week’s press reports may have created the wrong Impression about the lack of attention given to Operation Bluestar which I consider to be a very significant but sad and historic event in Sikh history.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 24, 1994
