OTTAWA: The Canadian Sikh community is rattled by a number of recent events including the disappearance of Canadian citizen Harpal Singh Gosal in Phagwara, the deportation of Mann Singh Sidhu, the impending deportation of Mahesh Inder Singh who is in the detention in British Columbia, and the implications of the recently signed Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Canada and India.

As of this week, no information had been received by Canadian Foreign Affairs Department on the whereabouts of Gosal inspire of repeated requests to the Indian Home Affairs Ministry in New Delhi. The Canadian High Commission is also involved in efforts to locate Gosal, many Organizations and MPs has written to Foreign Affairs Minister Andre Ouellette and contacted the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi seeking to the whereabouts of Gosal.

Last Thursday Ontario Gurdwara Committee along with a local MP met with officials of the Foreign Affairs Department. Attending the meeting were Garth Pardy, who is Director of the Consular Operations and Emergency Services Branch and Lindsay Hiseler who is assigned the Gosal case. This consular branch of Foreign Af fairs helps provide assistance to Canadians in difficulties when travelling outside the country. Bryan Burton, Deputy Director of the South Asia Division at Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting. Among the members of the Sikh community who attended the meeting were Amarjit Singh Mann, Sadhu Singh Chahal, Malton Gurdwara; Biker Singh Sodhi. Hamilton Gurdwara: Ranjodh Singh, Dixie Road Gurdwara, Harnandan Singh. Weston Gurdwara: Baldev Singh, Pape Gurdwara, and Ripsodhak Singh Grewal

The Sikh community delegation was informed that the Canadian Foreign Affairs has requested in. formation from the Indian Home Ministry and has also sent a note expressing concern about the disappearance of Gosal to the Indian High Commission in Ottawa Gosal departed Toronto on December 29, arriving in New Delhi on December 31, 1994. He was received by a relative and they traveled with a driver until Gosal requested to stop for a visit with someone in Phagwara. It was during this stop in Phagwara between 2:00 and 3:00 pm, that Gosal disappeared. It is baffling for Foreign Affairs officials that three days lapsed before any concern was.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1995