Undeterred, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh would go a smart way to address his programmes in Canada. He would now address his pre-scheduled programmes in Canada through Skype — a smartphone based mobile application.
In another smart move, the Maharaja of Patiala would organise a function in the US near the Canadian border so that those who could not meet Capt Amarinder personally can come there and meet him.
Capt Amarinder, who was scheduled to hold ‘political interactions and meetings’, had put his Canada visit on hold after the Canadian government invoked provisions of ‘Global Affairs Canada’ (GAC) policy.
It forbids “foreign governments to conduct election campaigns in Canada or establish foreign political parties and movements in Canada”. Besides, a complaint has also been filed against him by the Sikhs for Justice in Canadian court alleging torture on Sikhs during his tenure as Punjab Chief Minister, and he may also face arrest in the matter.
The party has hired a battery of lawyers in Canada to legally fight the complaint filed by the anti-India splinter group Sikhs for Justice.
The former chief minister was to address meetings in different cities including Toronto and Vancouver. Now, he would address some of these programmes through Skype.
Disclosing this, senior party leader and Kapurthala MlA Rana Gurjit Singh, who is in-charge for the programmes in Canada, said that all the programmes will go on according to the schedule and Capt Amarinder will speak to the Punjabis living in Canada through Skype.
“The party may also organise a function in the US near the Canadian border so that those who could not meet Capt Amarinder personally can come there and meet him personally,” he said.
The Congress leader maintained that there was festive atmosphere in Canadian cities among the Punjabi community in anticipation of Capt Amarinder’s visit. “Although they were disappointed over his inability to come, but they were happy after Capt Amarinder interacted with them through the Skype. He has already addressed one public meeting through Skype,” he said.
It has been clarified that Capt Amarinder has not cancelled his Canada visit, but had only rescheduled it and he would be visiting the country sooner than later.
“Since some legal impediments are created by the vested interests and anti-India forces, apparently to help and support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Capt Amarinder decided to get the issue resolved before coming over here to avoid any ugly and untoward situation,” he said.