Sajjan's native village gears up to welcome him

Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan's native village of Bambeli is all set to accord him a grand welcome when he will arrive here tomorrow.

"The route to Bambeli has been decorated with big hoardings in honour of the Canadian Defence Minister, who left the village with his family in 1974-75," said village head Paramjit Singh here.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm among the dwellers of Bambeli, located in Mahilpur block of this district, to receive him. A display of fireworks will mark his arrival here," he said.

Upon his arrival, Sajjan will be taken to a gurdwara in the village, where he will pay obeisance. Also, food will be at a langar (open kitchen) on the occasion.
 

Sajjan's father Kundan Singh and mother Vidya Kaur are already in the village to get their house renovated. His sister Manjit Kaur has also joined her parents, the village head said.

Sukhpal Singh, a cousin of Sajjan, said the minister was visiting the village after a gap of 16 years.

However, Deputy Commissioner, Hoshiarpur, Vipul Ujwal said he has no official information on the visit of the Canadian Defence Minister yet.

SSP H S Bhullar said adequate security arrangements have been made in view of his visit.

Meanwhile, Sajjan landed at the Guru Ramdas International Airport in Amritsar in the evening. Some radicals also raised slogans to welcome him.

Members of a Sikh fundamentalist group said they raised slogans in his honour but police did not allow them to receive or meet Sajjan, who has been dubbed a "Khalistani sympathiser" by Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has, however, announced to honour the dignitary during his visit to Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple on April 20.