TORONTO:A Sikh refugee suspected to have militant links has been deported to India by the Canadian Government The Canadian Government claimed that Muan Singh Sidhu is a member of the All India Sikh Students Federation, which it classified as a militant group. Sidhu lived in Montreal for two years after claiming refugee status. The Canadian Government’s decision is based on information it has received from the Indian Government about the background of Sidhu, said a report in the Montreal gazette.
Tribhuvan Ashok, Information Attaché in the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, confirmed Sidhu’s deportation back to India but he would not comment further.
Some members of the Sikh community are disturbed over Sidhu’s deportation and claim it was related to the recent treaty that Indian Home Minister S.B.Chavan signed with the Canadian Solicitor General Herb Gray.
“It seems Canada does not respect its obligations pursuant to the United Nation’s Charter of Human Rights for it is deporting an individual to his country of origin with the knowledge that he faces possible, if not certain, death upon arrival,” said Jagtar Singh Mann, a close relative of Sidhu and former secretary of the old western Gurdwara in Toronto.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) would not comment on Sidhu’s deportation. According to immigration officials, Sidhu’s real name is Hardeep Singh and that he is a member of a militant organization.
However, his lawyer Louis Pasquin insisted his client’s name is Sidhu. “This poor fellow is being deported to his death.” said Ms. Anne Lowthian, a spokeswoman for the World Sikh Organization in Olawa.
Sidhu arrived in Montreal illegally in December 1992 and claimed refugee status. Informed sources say the claim was rejected. He submitted a second claim to the Immigration Refugee Board, which also was rejected.
His refugee claim was based on the plea that he faced repression in India because he was a member of All India Sikh Youth Federation, whose members seek a separate Sikh state to be called Khalistan.
Solicitor General Herb Gray and Immigration Minister Sergio Marchi signed a security certificate for Hardeep Singh, saying that is Sidhu’s real name. The certificate denied Sidhu access to Canada on the grounds ho was a member of a militant organization.
The Canadian Government’s decision to deport Sidhu is also based on a classified report that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) submitted to the Solicitor General authorities say.
The contents of the report have not been released but Passing, the defense lawyer claims the report was based on information from the Indian Government.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 27, 1995
