Toronto Star

Sometimes she is in the subway when someone pops the question. Other times she is in a fast food lineup. Once she was watching a movie in a theatre when a man came up and whispered: “Why do you wear a turban?”

Mandeep Kaur Uppal quickly took him outside and explained that she is a Sikh and wearing a turban is a part of her religion.

“I’m never annoyed because I want people to know why I wear it and how important it is for me.”

At a time when many young Sikh men are cutting their hair in a desperate bid to assimilate, Uppal, 28, is among a small but growing number of Sikh women in the Greater Toronto Area who wear the turban.

There are no numbers available, but local Sikh leaders estimate at least a few hundred women wear the turban. In fact, there are more women who wear the turban in North America than in Punjab, India, where the majority of Sikhism followers live.

“People are way more traditional here,” said Shaminder Singh, a Mississauga-based Sikh scholar. “They are worried about losing their religion and culture and so become more orthodox,” he said. “It’s a way for some people to protect their religion.”

Sikhism dates back to 15th-century India. Adherents are forbidden to cut their hair, considered a visible testament to connection with their creator. The turban was adopted to manage long hair and make Sikhs easily identifiable.

There are varying views on whether Sikh women are required to wear the turban. They are required to keep their hair but Singh says there is nothing in history that indicates they have to wear a turban, too.

Uppal says she wears the turban because “our gurus said all Sikhs should wear it, and that includes women.”

She didn’t always wear one.

Uppal was baptized about 15 years ago when she was a student at West Humber Collegiate Institute. For two years, she covered her head with a scarf but many mistook it for a hijab, the scarf worn by some Muslim women. That’s when she decided to wear a turban. “That’s my identity,” she said.

At first, it took her about half an hour to tie it up — now, she can do it in minutes, with her eyes closed.

The turban that Sikh women wear is rounded, not pointed like the ones worn by men. They come in a variety of colours and styles, including polka-dot and tie-dyed. Some places even sell ready-made turbans. But Uppal usually wears a black one. “It’s not about fashion . . . it’s about following my religion.”

Fashion is the last thing on the minds of turban-wearing women but they admit they “like standing out in a crowd… People always remember me,” said Preetinder Sehgal, a 20-year-old York University student who has worn a turban for eight years.

“I’m one of the handful of women on campus (who wear a turban),” she said. “And let’s be honest, I never have to worry about my hair . . . it’s always in place.”

Assimilation is always an issue for immigrants, said Sukhpreet Kaur, 28, who has worn a turban since she was a toddler. But the mother of two says integration is not about having to give up one’s identity or religion. “It’s about values — not about religion or how you dress up.”

Kaur’s son, Jasjot, 5, and daughter, Livleen, 3, also wear turbans.

When Livleen started playschool recently, one of the first questions she was asked was why she wears a turban. “I’ve told her that she’s a princess and wears a crown on her head. That’s what she should tell everyone.”

Kaur, whose family just moved from Windsor to Brampton, doesn’t think it’s too much to explain for a 3-year-old. “She likes wearing the turban and, believe me, kids are curious and ask questions. There’s never been any problem.”

One of her favourite stories about Livleen and her turban is from last year. The Ontario Khalsa Darbar, one of North America’s largest Sikh temples at Derry and Dixie Rds. in Mississauga, holds a turban-tying contest for young men every year.

Livleen wanted to participate but it was only for men. Her parent took her anyway and the feisty 3-year-old was given a special appreciation award. “She was very happy and I was really proud of her,” said Kaur.

Women who wear the turban face as much of a challenge as men do, said Pardeep Singh Nagra, manager of employment equity with the Toronto District School Board. Nagra visits schools to explain the significance of a turban and demonstrates how it is tied.

“Women are asked the same questions as men, and what I tell them is: Answer questions with a big smile and the best of your ability,” said Nagra, adding that the number of women who wear turbans is increasing.

“There are 100 per cent more women with turbans now than when I was in school,” he said. “That’s quite encouraging.”

OTTAWA(July 21st, 2010): The World Sikh Organization (WSO) encourages S. Harvinder Singh Phoolka to continue his struggle for justice on behalf of the victims of the November 1984 genocide of Sikhs.
It has been reported that Mr. Phoolka has declared his intention to withdraw from the legal proceedings to prosecute the perpetrators of the 1984 genocide due to comments by Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Mr. Paramjit Singh Sarna. Mr. Sarna allegedly accused Mr. Phoolka of misappropriating community funds for his own benefit.
Mr. Phoolka is a hero to Sikhs across the world and has for the past 26 years dauntlessly struggled for justice. His integrity and dedication are without parallel. WSO expresses its complete support for Mr. Phoolka and encourages him to continue representing the victims. WSO and the Sikh community across the world stand with him to end the cycle of impunity for the perpetrators of the 1984 genocide of Sikhs.
The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

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For more information, please contact:

Amanpreet Singh Bal Tel. 905-567-1795, Cell 416-677-1528, Email: asinghbal@gmail.com
or
Gian Singh Sandhu, at 250-305-2440, e-mail: gian@jackpinegroup.com

The WSO, a human rights group, requested both politicians provide evidence to back-
up their claims that there is growing radicalism among Canadian Sikhs. The Prime
Minister’s Office responded with a form letter stating that the WSO’s “comments have
been noted,” while Mr. Ignatieff’s office did not even acknowledge receipt of the letter.

“Canadian Sikhs are experiencing a backlash because of these reckless claims made by
elected officials. And yet neither the Prime Minister’s Office, nor the man who wants to
replace him in the job, can be bothered to furnish us with evidence, ” says WSO Senior
Policy Advisor Gian Singh Sandhu. “I think they owe every Canadian evidence that what
they’re saying is true.”

WSO Canada President Prem Singh Vinning adds that the baseless comments repeated
in news media are encouraging attacks on a visible minority and he fears there could be
serious consequence for Canada’s more than 400,000 Sikhs. The WSO has requested
that these politicians either provide proof of what they’re claiming, or correct the public
record.

“The hateful comments we’re seeing online are particularly ugly and they’re escalating.
And they often follow news stories in which these baseless claims are made,” Mr.
Vinning says. “I think it’s time for the politicians making these claims to take
some responsibility for their comments and prove that what they’re saying is true.”
The WSO also notes that Vancouver Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh has been quoted in
Canadian and Indian media claiming radicalism is on the rise and that even ‘peaceful
campaigns’ organized by Sikhs are suspect:

“(Extremism) is much more entrenched, much more sophisticated (than it was
in 1985)…it is much more moderate in appearance than you might otherwise
see,” Mr. Dosanjh told the Toronto Sun. “People run peaceful campaigns and
behind the peaceful campaigns is the evil design to hurt other people and to
dismember other countries.”

During his speech at an Air India memorial Stephen Harper called on Canadians
to marginalize “extremists…who seek to import the battles of India’s past.”
But Mr. Sandhu says the Sikh community has no idea who these supposed extremists are,
and doubts they even exist.

“If Mr. Harper has evidence of terrorist activities, we would like him to make it public,
otherwise his words taint the entire community unfairly.”

As Mr. Ignatieff’s bus tour makes its way across Canada and Prime Minister Harper
attends various events over the summer, WSO asks Sikh Canadians to ask both leaders
for evidence supporting their comments about the so-called rise in extremism in the
community.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a
mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote
and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race,
religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status

Contact:
Gian Singh Sandhu
Policy advisor
604-341-2755
gianssandhu@gmail.com
or
Balpreet Singh
Legal Counsel
416-904-9110
balpreetsingh@worldsikh.org

As a Sikh Canadian, who was born in a Toronto suburb, roots for the Leafs, did law at the University of Ottawa, and works for a human rights organization, I’m astounded to hear claims from politicians that so-called “Sikh extremism” in on the rise.

If that’s the case, there’s no word of it among the more than 400,000 members of the Canadian Sikh community. The only thing we see on the rise is racism fuelled by these reckless comments.

As someone who wears the garb of his faith, I can tell you that the backlash we’re feeling is beginning to look like state-sanctioned vilification of Sikhs.

The evidence justifying this hate campaign is minimal. Most cite an offensive Facebook page attacking Vancouver MP Ujjal Dosanjh. I share his outrage and can understand his fear. Everyone knows Dosanjh’s personal history includes being beaten by thugs, and I sympathize with how that experience must have shaped his life.

But that doesn’t give him the right to turn Sikhs into the bogeyman. Or whip up hatred for a visible minority.

The other piece of Canadian evidence comes from 2007: a float in the Surrey, B.C. Vaisakhi parade displayed a picture of Talwinder Singh Parmar, who died in Indian police custody in 1992 and is widely believed to be one of the masterminds of the Air India bombing. What most people don’t know is that Parmar’s handful of supporters call him a martyr because they believe he is wrongly accused in the Air India tragedy. Some people, particularly of past generations, can’t believe anyone connected with the faith could be involved in a mass murder.

That makes them naive, not radical.

Perhaps the most persuasive piece of “evidence” comes from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has been telling news media that Sikh extremism is on the rise for more than three years — although he offers little in the way of proof.

But his allegation is an effective tool for quashing legitimate discussion of India’s human rights abuses, which is the real purpose of India’s claim that the Sikh diaspora is harbouring “extremists,” particularly in England and Canada.

Both countries are known as champions of free speech and civil rights, which means human rights groups like the one I work for, the World Sikh Organization of Canada, can and do highlight abuses in foreign countries. That’s a problem for India as it seeks to rehabilitate its reputation and establish more trade in the West.

While India is a democracy — citizens vote — it lacks some critical liberal democratic values. The justice system is notoriously corrupt, there are few protections for minority groups, and the ruling government is just as likely to enforce its will with guns as parliamentary debate.

As Amnesty International’s 2010 report on human rights abuses details, Indian security forces continue to terrorize their own citizens. The report also notes India’s reluctance to prosecute those behind the 1984 massacre of more than 3,000 Sikhs that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Canada has long been a leader in encouraging less developed countries to treat their citizens justly because oppressive regimes are ultimately unstable. That’s dangerous internationally and bad business for a trading nation like Canada.

So it’s shocking to hear Canadian politicians trying to erode our own free speech guarantees by labeling discussion as “extremism.”

Recently Dosanjh took a distinctly Indian point of view when he told the Toronto Sun that disagreeing with the authorities is a sign of a radical.

“(Extremism) is much more entrenched, much more sophisticated (than it was in 1985),” Dosanjh said, after the release of the Major Commission report on the Air India tragedy. “It is much more moderate in appearance than you might otherwise see. People run peaceful campaigns and behind the peaceful campaigns is the evil design to hurt other people and to dismember other countries.”

That’s an interesting view for a member of the Opposition to hold. Are we to assume that when the federal Liberal caucus campaigns against the Tory government they’re harbouring the urge to attack them with baseball bats?

We can trust they won’t because that’s not how we do it in Canada.

That the Sikh community has been linked to the Air India tragedy which took 331 innocent lives is a shame and sorrow the community will always bear.

But it’s also worth remembering that the Major Commission found that in the 1980s Canadian Sikhs informed the RCMP of terrorist activities — and were ignored.

Today, more than a generation later, even more Sikhs are Canadian-born and the community is fully integrated. To claim, “Sikh extremism is on the rise” without evidence is akin to linking Gilles Duceppe and the Bloc Québécois to 1970s FLQ terrorists.

To be blunt: Sikhs are a tight-knit community, if one of us was fomenting terrorism someone would have heard by now, and reported it.

But all we hear are accusations. And the warning to keep quiet about human rights abuses in India lest we be labeled “extremists.”

I plan to ignore that intimidation tactic. There is a long, proud tradition in Canada of encouraging foreign states to improve their human rights practices.

My organization will continue to stand up for Sikhs in oppressive states, just as we will continue speaking up for our fellow Canadians when their right to don a kilt or a hijab or build a succah hut is denied.

Despite what foreign politicians are saying, there is no evidence of Sikh extremism and Canadian Sikhs are much like the rest of the country: We don’t believe in violence (except at hockey games).

Balpreet Singh Boparai is legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, a human rights organization that recently championed an Alberta teenager’s right to wear a kilt to graduation.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

It was the worst day of my entire life. A terrible day. I was crushed. A friend of the family (Punjabi film actor Virender; a cousin of Bollywood’s Dharmendra) first informed me of the disaster. “Which flight was bhaaji on?” he asked me and his face became ashen the moment I said “182.” I knew something terrible had happened. As the wife of a pilot, I knew only too well what a midair explosion meant. Everyone onboard the Kanishka was killed. Killed instantly. Killed without mercy. All I remember saying at the time was: ‘I am finished!’”
We had no inkling about any terrorist threat to the Air India aircraft. Actually Sat and I never really discussed the possibility. In fact, flight 182 would have been his last as co-pilot. It was to qualify him as commander (first pilot) on the transatlantic route.

He was keen that I accompany him because there was a full week between landing and take-off from Toronto. “It will be a paid holiday,” he said. But I refused and that made him very unhappy. Something was telling me to stay back for the children. My heart began sinking the moment he asked me to come.

Sat left us on June 13 and that was the last time we saw him alive.

Call it a premonition of some sort, but I had always been very scared when my husband went on a flight. I constantly tracked his movement… I always knew where and what part of the world he was flying over at any given time. My sixth sense was always alert.

But one is always forced to give in to destiny. Now, both my son and son-in-law are commercial pilots. Ashamdeep had his heart set on becoming a pilot just like his father. I never encouraged him but also did not have it in me to stand in his way.
Ours was a different kind of love story. We were married in the winter (December) of 1970. Our families had known each other long and we met at weddings and family functions. And even though we never spoke about it, both of us knew we were meant to be to-gether. When he first proposed, my father, who had his own fears because Sat was in the Air Force and flying an obsolete Super Constellation aircraft, was reluctant. But eventually everyone agreed it was a good match.
Sat was very handsome and looked amazing in his IAF uniform. He used to lovingly call me “Ambee”, which is Punjabi for a raw mango.

Our marriage was like a dream. Immediately after the wedding, he was posted to Shillong and we drove there all the way from Delhi. It took us all of 10 days and we stopped at the Taj Mahal because he insisted we must seek blessings at the greatest shrine of love.

When the war broke out in 1971, Sat rejoined his old Super Constellation squadron at Pune to carry out maritime reconnaissance over the Arabian Sea. He would go out on nightly sorties and I stayed up till he returned each morning.
My husband never spoke about any safety issues during his flying for the Air Force. Though there was always shoptalk in the officers’ mess about how he had brought back the aircraft on a single engine… I did not understand the implications fully but became scared easily as a young wife. Sat always said: “Darling don’t you worry… nothing will ever happen.” That was his favourite line.

We were very happy in the Air Force but it didn’t give him much chance to realise his great desire for the children to travel and see the world. “Travelling, seeing and experiencing new places and people is the best possible education,” he would often say. That was the only reason he chose to join Air India because we could have never done it on an IAF salary.
After we lost Sat, I saved and scrounged to ensure that both kids got a vacation abroad each summer. It was like religion to me… a tribute to the father of my children.

It was very tough after we lost him. I was a protected, young housewife with two little children and money suddenly became a major issue because his salary was our only source of income. I realised soon that I would have to pick up the threads and start all over again. Air India gave me a job at Chandigarh and was generous enough to let me stay here until my children were grown up.

I have never been able to open my mind to anyone after Sat. We had an amazing relationship. I cannot imagine a better partner and marriage. We lived for each other and in a sense I still do. I have met many nice people but it never occurred to me that I could or needed to begin a new relationship.

I kept myself busy fulfilling his dreams and doing all that he would have been happy to see me doing. Sat remains my guiding light and I believe he is still watching us. I was a most pampered housewife and without his (invisible) hand on my shoulder none of this would have been possible.

Life goes on but the trauma is unending. Justice for the victims of Flight 182 has been unacceptably delayed. They have kept our pain alive for the past 25 years and have still not been able to identify and punish the real culprits.
The only satisfaction is that the Canadian Government has now officially acknowledged what we had known in bits and pieces from media reports and people. The John Major Commission has accepted that the threat to Air India was taken very lightly. I personally appreciate Justice Major for having the courage and honesty to bring all these bitter facts on record. But like I said, the culprits have not been, and will probably never be given adequate punishment. And that is the painful bit.
I still cannot understand the minds of the men who planned and executed the bombing — 329 innocent people died that day and thousands of others have been suffering since. This was done in the name of Sikh extremism but I fail to understand this brand of Sikhism. Both my husband and I were proud to be Sikhs but this is definitely not the Sikhism we were brought up to practice. I refuse to believe there is any difference between a Sikh and a Hindu or a person of any other religious belief. They were all innocents aboard the Kanishka that fateful day.

The men who did this were criminals and madmen. The Khalistanis called themselves freedom fighters but why then were they out there in Canada? They were nothing but cowards sitting in safe havens and terrorising us here. All they eventually achieved was that the rest of the world began hating and suspecting all Sikhs!
As told to Asit Jolly

Sikhs across Canada are celebrating this great country and their long history here. Sikhs first arrived in Canada in the late 1800s and have since developed deep roots and ties with this nation. Today we find Sikhs actively engaged in all facets of Canadian life from business to politics to the armed forces.

One of the reasons Sikhs have formed such strong bonds with Canada is that Sikh values of equality, tolerance, freedom and respect of differences are also Canadian values that we see enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As we celebrate all that Canada means to us, let us also take a moment to remember those around the world who are less fortunate and do not enjoy the same rights and freedoms we enjoy here. Canada has a long history of being a champion of human rights and we must continue to promote and protect those rights around the globe.

Once again, on behalf of WSO, we wish all Canadians a very happy Canada Day!

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

Brendan Kennedy

Toronto Star

Home Depot Canada and one of its senior employees discriminated against a Sikh security guard by “selectively enforcing” a hard hat rule and threatening to fire him for not removing his turban, Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal has ruled.

The company and assistant manager Brian Busch also subjected Deepinder Loomba to “discriminatory treatment in the form of rude and offensive comments and conduct” based on his Sikh religion, tribunal vice-chair Ena Chadha wrote in her decision.

“I am satisfied that the complainant was treated differently because of his turban and that this was negative differential treatment,” Chadha wrote.

On Dec. 6, 2005, Loomba, who worked for Reilly’s Security Services, showed up for his morning shift at a Milton Home Depot. The store was six weeks from opening and some areas were still under construction.

Loomba testified at the tribunal that Busch told him he had to put on a hard hat, despite the fact his role was to sit at a desk away from construction zones. He said people were moving around the site without hard hats.

Loomba testified that when he did not comply, Busch was rude to him and later mocked him with a group of workers at the site. After he left the facility, he said Busch approached him and told him that individuals before him had been fired for not complying in a similar fashion.

Busch denied making fun of Loomba and said he never threatened to fire him.

The case was brought before the tribunal after Home Depot failed to respond to complaints.

Chadha wrote that she found Loomba’s testimony more credible than Busch’s, which she said included “numerous discrepancies . . . which could not be logically reconciled with the undisputed facts.”

After the decision was released Loomba said he felt like “the winner.”

“It wasn’t a fight of fundamentalism, it was a fight of principles,” he said.

Loomba, who is originally from Uganda, said Busch’s and Home Depot’s actions challenged his way of life.

“A turban for a Sikh is a part of his body,” he said. “It is not acceptable, we are all human beings and we are living in a multicultural society.”

Though Reilly’s opted not to support Loomba in his complaint — “choosing to favour its corporate client in Home Depot,” Loomba’s lawyer, Raj Anand said — Loomba remains employed by the security company.

Chadha has not decided on a remedy for the case (Loomba is seeking around $25,000 and changes to Home Depot’s policies) and she still must determine if the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which requires hard hats to be worn at construction sites, is itself in conflict with Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

A representative of Home Depot Canada could not immediately be reached for comment.

A reenactment of the case U.S. vs. Bhagat Singh Thind (1923) where Thind, an Asian-Indian was denied citizenship due to not being a “free, white man” is occurring on Saturday June 26, 2010 at 2:15 P.M. at the Harvard school of Law. If you are interested in attending or acquiring more information regarding this issue, please visit the Institute for Race and Justice webpage. On this day, a grave injustice will be put to rest, where the outcome of the trial will go differently and Thind will be granted U.S. citizenship. Sadly, Bhagat S. Thind passed away in 1967 so he will not be able to witness this event. However, this will be a very auspicious occasion for his family, Asian Indians, and Sikhs.

Bhagat Singh Thind, b. 1892 was a Punjabi Sikh man who originally (and legally) immigrated to the U.S. in 1913 from India to obtain higher education. He inevitably acquired his Ph.D and taught lessons in metaphysics; Dr. Thind was inspired by different religious scriptures as well as Emmerson, Whitman, and Thoreau. He was also recruited by the U.S. government to serve in the military during World War I in 1918. Dr. Thind initially applied for citizenship in the state of Washington after he was honorably discharged from the military. Thind’s request was granted, however his citizenship was was revoked four days later on the basis that he was not a “white” man. How is it fair that a man was considered fit enough to fight in a war for the United States, but was not “white” enough to be considered a citizen? Sounds hypocritical and unfortunate to me.

Thind’s initial revocation of citizenship did not leave him discouraged or disheartened–he decided to try again. Six months later, Dr. Thind again applied for citizenship–this time in Oregon. This time, Thind’s request for citizenship was approved, however, the Immigration and Naturalization Service appealed the judge’s decision and took the case to the Supreme Court. Here, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to repeal Thind’s citizenship on the basis that he was again, not a “free, white man.” Thind argued that Asian Indians were Caucasian and were descended from Aryans. However, the Supreme Court disregarded this argument because Thind was not a “white” Caucasian man; here, they decreed that Caucasian and “white” were not synonymous as many of us believe nowdays. Therefore, Dr. Thind’s citizenship was revoked AGAIN for the second time.

More than a decade later, in 1935 a law was passed where all World War I Veterans were granted citizenship. Due to this stipulation, Bhagat Singh Thind finally qualified to be a U.S. citizen. Dr. Thind was finally able to gain status as a U.S. citizen due to his World War I Veteran qualification.

Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind was married to Mrs. Vivian Thind and is survived by his children David and Rosalind. His occupation and passion was lecturing on: religion, spirituality, and philosophy (among many other things). He wrote a number of works that delineated his philosophy. More information on Dr. Thind’s life can be found on his website.

As a Sikh, Asian Indian, AND American, the reenactment of Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind’s case will be a very important to me. On this day, a strong and brave man will be recognized, and a moral wrong, rectified.

Below is an image of Dr. Thind taken from his website:

The Akhand Paath — a 48-hour non-stop reading of the Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib – will be held in memory of the 331 innocent lives lost. Akhand Paaths are held to mark solemn occasions in the Sikh community and Sikhs take turns reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib until the reading is completed.

The Akhand Paath will conclude on the day of the tragedy, June 23 at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by a memorial service in which hymns will be sung and 331 candles will be lit, one for each victim of the bombings.

All members of the community are welcome to attend these services.

Media are also welcome to photograph and record the event.

Sikh gurdwaras across Canada will be holding similar memorial services and prayers and the Word Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) joins the Sikh community in marking this painful anniversary.

“The bombing of Air India flight 182 was an incomprehensible tragedy.  So many innocent lives were lost, including accomplished humanitarians, scientists, artists, and community activists.  It is important that we honour their memory.  Such a tragedy should never have happened and it must never be allowed to happen again,” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning.

For further information about the memorial contact Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey at 604-594-8117 or by email at contact@gnsg.ca .

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

“We believe the families should be compensated.  Ultimately, the best way to honour the victims is to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again,” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning.

Despite serious concerns over the limited involvement of the Sikh community in the Inquiry, WSO welcomes many of the Major Commission’s key recommendations.

In light of the disturbing findings of the Commission that this tragedy could have been prevented, WSO believes it is incumbent upon the Canadian Government apologize to the families for its failure to prevent the tragedy due to a “turf war” between the RCMP and CSIS.

“An apology is needed and long overdue.  There were critical and unnecessary failures in the investigation of this tragedy which have resulted in delayed justice for much too long,” said Palbinder Kaur Shergill, WSO General Counsel.

The WSO also applauds the recommendation that a National Security Advisor be appointed to oversee both agencies and ensure that information crucial to public safety is not withheld. The report highlights RCMP failures particularly, noting that they lost and destroyed evidence, investigated a terrorist conspiracy as if it were a pretty crime ring, and failed to share the intelligence it did gather with CSIS.

“We have long said that, as a society, Canada needs to be more vigilant when it comes to preventing this kind of violence and we were particularly pleased to see the Report recommending better, more sophisticated policing,” said Gian Singh Sandhu, WSO Senior Policy Advisor. “Canadian Sikhs have lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since the bombing of Air India, and routinely faced harassment and intimidation by authorities. We believe a better trained federal police force and improved cooperation between intelligence agencies could prevent that from happening again.”

“Most Canadians associate this horrible tragedy with our community, and Sikhs will always bear the sorrow of that,” Sandhu said. “But at least this report helps us understand some of what went wrong, and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.”

As we approach the 25^th anniversary of the Air India tragedy, WSO joins the Sikh community and all Canadians in remembering the innocent lives lost.  Such a tragedy must never be allowed to happen again.

The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

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