Amarinder Singh cancels Canada visit after Sikhs For Justice file complaint

Former Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh has postponed his week-long trip to Canada following a complaint filed against him by Sikh rights group, Sikhs For Justice in a Canadian court.

The US-based Sikh organisation had filed a petition demanding Amarinder Singh's arrest for alleged atrocities committed during his term as the Chief Minister of Punjab - from 2002 to 2007. The petition added that the politician had promoted specific police officials responsible for committing human rights excesses against Canadian Sikhs in India during militancy in the state.

In an appeal to Canadian NRIs, Singh stated, "I regret postponing my visit to Canada but this has been done to avoid any ugly confrontation or untoward situation." 

"I will fight this case legally to the finish and come to you once it is sorted out through due legal process," he said. 

According to a media report Singh responded to the complaint as saying, "This is an attempt to thwart my meetings with NRIs while trying to reach out to them. These are a handful of people utilising such events to make money. They have tried to do the same with Congress President and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh." 

He also said that he was certain that the court will reject the complaint lodged by the Sikh group as it would not stand the scrutiny of law and that Sikhs For Justice was 'playing into the hands of Pakistan's ISI'.