CHANDIGARH: It is extremely rare for a state government and the Centre not to see eye to eye over the visit of a top functionary of a friendly country. But that is exactly what has happened in
Punjab over the four-day tour of
Canada’s defence minister
Harjit Sajjan, which starts from April 19.
While chief minister
Amarinder Singh has called Sajjan and his Sikh colleagues in the Canadian government pro-Khalistan sympathisers, the ministry of external affairs has called him a war hero.
READ ALSO: 5 Canadian ministers Khalistani sympathisers: Amarinder SinghIn its bio note sent to the Punjab government on April 5,
MEA
had described Sajjan as a man with an illustrious career “who has served Canada and his community” as both a soldier and a police officer.
The note lists his counter-terror assignments in Afghanistan as a roll of honour.” “Harjit is a retired lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. He was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
He has received numerous recognitions for his service including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province,” the note says and adds details of his service in the Vancouver Police.
When present US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley visited Punjab in November 2014 as the governor of North Carolina, the then Badal government had called her a state guest. Sajjan, however, will not get this honour.
Don't miss the yearly horoscope 2025 and Chinese horoscope 2025 for Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig zodiac signs. Spread love this holiday season with these Happy New Year wishes, messages, and quotes.Rohan Dua is an Assistant Editor with Times of India. As an itine...
Read MoreRohan Dua is an Assistant Editor with Times of India. As an itinerant reporter, he has walked a marathon from rustic farms to idyllic terrains across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to report extensively on the filial politics, village triumphs and palace intrigues. He likes to sneak into, snoop and sniff out offices for investigative scoops, some of which led to breakthrough probes in the Railgate, Applegate, AW chopper scam, IPL fixing and drug scam. His stories nailed Pakistan's involvement with damning evidence in two Punjab terror attacks at Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
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