M A I N   N E W S

Dosanjh is BC Premier
Tribune News Service

VANCOUVER, Feb 21 — It was a big day for Punjabis. One of them, Mr Ujjal Dosanjh today became the Premier of British Columbia, a prosperous and important state of Canada.

At a convention of the ruling New Democratic Party at Pacifist Stadium, Mr Dosanjh defeated his rivals by polling 769 votes out of 1319. Agriculture Minister Corky Evans polled 459 votes.

His name was proposed by the leader of the all-important Canadian Auto-Workers Union, Mr Lane Rol. He was supported by another leader. Earlier, Mr Manmohan Singh Sahota, a senior Cabinet Minister, and former Prime Minister Glenn Clarke had withdrawn from the contest.

There was thunderous applause when the results were announced . Mr Dosanjh was present along with his wife Mrs Raminder Kaur Dosanjh, and three sons, Pavel, Assem and Ambar, to receive the standing ovation. Mr Dosanjh told the delegates that the election of a once immigrant worker to such a high place showed the commitment of the Canadian people.

He talked about his Punjabi background, the roll of Ghaddarite freedom fighters and other political forces committed to social justice and human welfare. He promised to uphold these traditions.

Mr Dosanjh will be sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor, Mr G. Gadown, in Victoria on Wednesday. Five days later he will announce his Cabinet. Born in Dosanj Kalan village of Jalandhar district, Mr Dosanjh belongs to a family of freedom fighters.

Gobind Thukral adds from Chandigarh: Talking to TNS on the phone from his residence, Mr Dosanjh, the first Indian to become a premier of any Canadian state, said: “My victory is a tribute to the freedom fighters of the Kamagata Maru. They set the pattern for us to fight for freedom and democracy. We salute all freedom fighters and those who cherish social and human values”.

Mr Dosanjh (52) has been Attorney-General and Home Minister for four-and-a-half years and has been a member of the British Columbia Assembly for nine years. When he was here last time to lead a delegation of ministers to help Punjab and India set up joint industrial ventures, he had expressed a desire to seek retirement from active politics if his party, New Democratic Party of Canada, permitted him. “My commitment to public welfare and cause of democracy did not allow me to take up my legal practice”, he said adding, ‘‘unlike in the country of my birth, here publicmen do quit after they feel that they have done their job. I also thought for some time. But then commitments forced me to keep the public position’’.

Asked how he felt as once he was an immigrant worker and how should people in India and Punjab in particular, think about his victory, Mr Dosanjh said: “I remember my maternal grand father in Bahwa village of Hoshiarpur. He would take us on a wooden cart and tell us stories about Kamagata Maru, the gurdwara reform movement and about Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru of the freedom movement. Something went deep and influenced my thinking. When I came to Canada after spending sometime in England, I worked hard to earn a living and then became a lawyer, I was always busy in the trade union movement and later the New Democratic Party. Our commitment is to social democracy. I salute the country of my origin and my Punjab and the people”.

Mr Dosanjh’s victory has already bolstered the chances of his party winning the next elections. As per the poll forecasts, the New Democratic Party was behind its rivals by 30 per cent points and now it is behind by just 13 per cent points. “This tremendous faith has been expressed by the delegates (769 delegates voted for him out of 1319 who exercised their right). It has put a great responsibility on me. No platitudes, but my past record is there. I have never minced words and my actions speak for it. I have to lead my party to victory”, he said.

Mr Dosanjh, born in 1947, has been in some kind of political struggle since the age of 20. He did not mince words when he attacked the Khalistanis in Canada. He was attacked and escaped unhurt. He is the first Prime Minister who has been provided security for that reason. Canadian mounted police feel that he could be the target of extremist elements.

“I migrated at the age of 17, but have never forgotten my roots. I have visited Punjab repeatedly and have tried to set up joint ventures with the help of my colleagues. I look forward doing something tangible for Punjab. We can help in setting up joint ventures in several areas”, he added.

Mr Dosanjh said it was true that the first commitment was to Canada and British Columbia, but India was there in his heart. “We strongly believe in the unity and prosperity of India, a modern secular democratic India committed to the welfare of its people. We want to see the land of our origin prosperous and any help would be an honour”, he said.

Mr Dosanjh is the 34th Prime Minister of British Columbia, the state born in 1871. His wife Mrs Raminder Kaur Dosanjh is working and his three sons are studying in universities. The entire family was there to receive the applause after his election as leader of the New Democratic party.