Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 28

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today reiterated that some Canadian MPs and ministers had openly supported Khalistan at some point of time or are still supporting it.

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“Some of them had even signed petitions denouncing India and indulged in anti-India protests and propaganda in Canada,” Capt Amarinder said in a statement after the Aam Aadmi Party held a press conference here, demanding an apology from him for his remarks made in a TV interview.

The AAP leaders asked the Punjab Congress chief to either produce evidence or tender an apology for alleging in the interview that four Punjabi Canadian ministers had scuttled his Canada tour on directions of Sikh hardliners.

Amarinder, in a statement, “clarified” that he had remarked that only some MPs and ministers of Indian origin, but not all of them, had Khalistani leanings.

Hitting back at AAP leaders for acting as “spokespersons of Khalistan and its supporters”, Capt Amarinder said, “When the Canadian MPs and the ministers do not have any objection to what I said, what makes you to act as their spokespersons?

“I am surprised over the pain and hurt caused to you by my saying that some ministers in the Canadian government are Khalistan supporters, which they actually are as they have been openly supporting Khalistan.”

Reiterating that his Canada visit was scuttled by “anti-India” forces represented by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu-led Sikhs for Justice, and “helped by the anti-India” elements in the Canadian government, the Punjab Congress chief dared the AAP leaders to deny that he (Pannu) was not working at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI or that there were no MPs or ministers who did not have Khalistani leanings.

"I remarked that only some (Canadian) MPs and ministers of Indian origin, but not all of them, had Khalistani leanings. When they do not have any objection to what I said, what makes you (AAP leaders) act as their spokespersons?" - Capt Amarinder Singh