Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today condemned the "racial slur" against the India-born Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in the Canadian Parliament.
"Every Indian in general and every Sikh in particular feels hurt over the racial slur against Mr Sajjan whose contribution to the Canadian nation remains unparalleled," Amarinder said in a statement issued here today.
Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was heckled in Parliament with an Opposition member shouting that MPs needed an "English to English" translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as "racist."
The former Punjab CM said, "the remarks made by the opposition MP Jason Kenney are clearly and undoubtedly racial and outrageous and he must apologise for the same and in case he doesn't, he must be admonished and reprimanded in accordance with the Canadian legislative business procedures".
The PCC president pointed out, Sajjan was a decorated soldier who had served in Afghanistan and Bosnia.
"It was only because Sajjan was from a different race and ethnicity that the opposition Conservative lawmaker made an outrageously racial remark against him which must be condemned by everybody," he observed.
The former Punjab Chief Minister regretted that this happened inside the Parliament of Canada where the India-Punjabi origin people have made immense contribution towards its progress and development and have been committed and integral part of the society there.
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Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, Congress leader Raj Kumar Verke also attacked the state government over law and order situation in Punjab.
"The law and order situation in the state has been completely destroyed. Criminal activities are being carried out in all districts. In the past one month 30 murders have been carried out," alleged Verka, who is also vice chairman of Nation Commission For Scheduled Castes.
