Punjab Post Daily Online Newspaper & Print Media
Amritsar, April 13 (Dharmender Singh Rataul) – The historic Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC), a conglomerate of educational institutions, today welcomed the move by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to tender an unconditional apology on the floor of the House of Commons next month for Komagata Maru incident in 1914 when a ship carrying hundreds of Indian immigrants mostly Sikhs was returned due to a “discriminatory law’’.
In praise of Trudeau statement on Baisakhi eve, that he would tender the apology for the incident that blocked the entry of migrants , KCGC honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said the whole community is indebted to Canadian PM Trudeau for the `kind gesture’. `My heart goes in praise of Justine Trudeau who has taken this historic decision. This was long awaited and would definitely go in long way to correct the historic mistake that the then Canadian government committed by not allowing migrants to set foot on Canadian soil.
He said there was nothing wrong if the migrants had taken a dream to reach Canada, a dream place even today for many families to lead a good and respectful life for many. “I am also thankful the way Justice accorded respect to Sikh traditions by organizing an Akhand Path at Canadian parliament’’, said Chhina adding that the community would remain indebted to Canada for their humble gesture of giving place of pride to Sikhs in Canada and elsewhere.
A Punjab BJP leader, Chhina said the intelligentsia and commoners are indebted to Canada government and especially Trudeau for the move that will happen on May 16. Chhina also appealed UK government that it should also now take an initiative to tender an apology for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh tragedy in which hundreds of innocent persons were butchered mercilessly on the Baisakhi day near Golden Temple for taking part in the freedom struggle movement. “I am hopeful that such a gesture would not come from UK too’’, said he.
