Punjab demands apology from Canadian Parliament over Komagata Maru tragedy

CANADA POST - 100th-year anniversary - Komagata Maru incidentPUNJAB state’s assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Wednesday seeking an apology from the Canadian government for the Komagata Maru incident, according to reports in Indian media.

The resolution said: “The Indian government should seek an apology from Canadian government in Canadian Parliament for the atrocities committed by them on Indian people as they have apologised to Chinese and Japanese people for inhuman behaviour meted out to them.”

The resolution was introduced by Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal.

Congress MLA and former Punjab Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said collective efforts should be to made to ensure the issue is taken up by the Canadian Parliament.

Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema said he would request Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to pursue the issue with the Indian government.

Calling upon MLAs to raise this issue unanimously rising above the petty political, SAD MLA and Minister Bikram Singh Majithia appealed to Treasury as well as opposition members not to politicise the martyrdom of the 19 people who died but raise a united voice so that Canada Parliament was forced to apologise, adding that it would be the befitting tribute to those unknown martyrs who laid down their lives for nation.

Akali Dal MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala said the Canadian Parliament should emulate the example of the province of British Columbia which had apologised for this tragedy.