M A I N   N E W S

Bachan for action against Dupalpur
Says he will take up ‘pigeons’ issue with Vedanti
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 21
The case of disappearance of “pigeons” (the term used for persons who go to foreign countries on ministerial visas) from Canada will be taken up by Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, with the Jathedar of Akal Takht and Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, President, SGPC.

Dr Bachan said the credibility of the SGPC had been eroded as Mr Tarlochan Singh Dupalpur, an SGPC member from Nawanshahr, had ‘forced’ him to issue a recommendation letter for a visit to Canada. He said he would urge Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, to initiate action against Mr Dupalpur for ‘misguiding’ the SGPC.

He said it was a matter of concern that three persons who had accompanied the jatha had disappeared after the Baisakhi celebrations. He said as Secretary to the SGPC he could not refuse letters to SGPC members who were trustees and jathedars of various Takhts for their foreign tours for religious purposes.

He said he did not give a second thought when Mr Dupalpur asked him to write a few lines on his proposed participation in the Baisakhi celebrations at Canada.

Two Akali Ministers, Mr Sohan Singh Thandal and Mr Sujan Singh, had also accompanied the “pigeons’’ who disappeared after the Baisakhi festival.

Dr Bachan said the SGPC had received an e-mail from Mr R.S. Bains expressing concern regarding ‘human smuggling’. Mr Bains had said the incident had put all Canadian Sikhs to shame. “This is a sad story that our so-called religious and political leaders who visited Canada in connection with the Baisakhi celebrations were responsible for the scam. The Sikh community in Canada will have to pay a heavy price for this for a long time to come”.

“Mr Harbans Singh Dhaliwal, Federal Minister of Canada, will face punishment for no fault of his. He (Mr Dhaliwal) will be debarred for a year to recommend visas, to Sikhs especially”.

Mr Bains had also explained that Mr Dhaliwal had never demanded money for recommending visas to the team bringing ‘shastras’ from India. “Were those shastras (weapons) genuine or not, the SGPC and Akal Takht should know. If somebody played mischief it could either be the gurdwara committee or mediating agents”.

He had claimed that the Chief Khalsa Dewan executive committee had expelled one of its members instrumental in this scam. Nobody knew for certain as to who else was involved in the immigration trade to Canada. It was rumoured that the ministers who visited Canada during the celebrations were not free from blame.

Dr Bachan said he would get the matter thoroughly investigated. He admitted to numerous reports on ‘human cargo’. He said it was necessary to investigate the matter so that incidents did not recur.

On the other hand, Mr Tarlochan Singh Dupalpur, SGPC member, and Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, Punjab Minister, denied that they were responsible for the incident. Talking to TNS from Nawanshahr, Mr Dupalpur said he was ready to clarify if summoned by the High Priests.

He, however, said Mr Gurdev Singh Johal, Mr Balbir Singh Changiara and even ministers could not escape responsibility for the disappearance of the ‘pigeons’. He said that the three ‘pigeons’ and the ministers were not seen after the Baisakhi celebrations. He said he himself had been ‘lured’ by Mr Johal to visit Canada.

He said he was initially denied visa by the Canadian Embassy but got one on Mr Johal’s intervention. He said Mr Johal had met him at Simbly village in Nawanshahr in February and invited him to Canada for Baisakhi.

Mr Johal and Mr Changiara have already denied their hand in the scam.