Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has cancelled his upcoming visit to B.C. fearing that he may be accused of human rights violations and be subjected to legal action by pro-Khalistani forces in Canada.

Badal was to attend the  Canada India Agriculture and Food Processing Forum 2012 that is scheduled to take place in Vancouver on September 10-11 and later in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on September 12-13. 

A reception had been planned for Badal in Vancouver to meet with local business and community members on Monday, September 10.

Badal’s cancellation comes in the wake of his father and Punjab Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal being slapped with a lawsuit earlier this month during his visit to Milwaukee to families of the victims of the Wisconsin Sikh gurdwara shooting and to attend a wedding.

The lawsuit by the New York-based Sikh group accused Badal senior of human rights violations by overseeing the “torture” of Sikhs in Punjab and “defending notorious police officers”.

A group, called “Sikhs for Justice”, announced that, following its petition, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin had served Badal senior with summons asking him to respond by the end of this month.

The lawsuit prompted a meeting attended by Vikram Bajwa, President of the Indian Overseas Congress, Dr Rajwant Singh Dhillon, president of Punjab Canadian Foundation senior members of Shiromani Akali Dal, executives of Vancouver Gurdwaras and leaders of Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) bodies in the Pacific Northwest.

In the meeting, the lawsuit was discussed at length and it was resolved that Badal junior should be advised to cancel his Canada visit.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said, “We have to advise the Indian leaders, irrespective of political affiliations, as our responsibility being NRIs to protect India’s interests and respect in the international community. All NRIs and their organisations have a responsibility to act as ambassadors of India.” 

The group suggested that Punjab send a senior administrative officer instead of Sukhbir Badal.

“It is a shame that Badal has cancelled his visit to BC which would have helped improve business ties with Punjab…This is the work of the remnants of the pro-Khalistani separatist faction which is still quite active in Canada and the U.S.,” said a Sikh businessman in Surrey who was looking forward to meeting with Sukhbir Badal.

In Canada, several groups associated with the Khalistan movement are banned as terrorist organizations.

“The programme for the visit was in such an advanced stage that the State governments of British Columbia and Ontario were contacted to arrange meetings of the Deputy Chief Minister with the powers that be, there,” reported YesPunjab.

The lawsuit filed in United Sates under Alien Torts Act and Torture Victims Protection Act contends that Punjab chief minister Parkash S. Badal had shielded police officials who inflicted custodial torture and were responsible for the extra judicial killings and continuous human rights violations against the Sikhs in Punjab.

The lawsuit against Badal, which seeks jury trial, clearly indicates the anger of the Sikh community for appointing tainted police officer Sumedh Singh Saini as Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police, who is on trial for killing and abduction of innocent people during the Sikh insurgency in Punjab.

“Petitions are regularly filed in US and Canada under torture laws, so Sukhbir can also come under scanner of Canada law," Indian media reported, adding that Gujarat State Chief Minister Narendra Modi was denied a visa by USA, on a similar petition filed by Muslim League. 

"The lawsuit will raise awareness to the international community regarding the torture and  extrajudicial killings of Sikhs in the state of Punjab by the security forces," said Sikhs For Justice attorney  Gurpatwant Pannun.

“It will send a  strong message to political leaders that they will not be able to visit United  States without being answerable to the  international laws and the courts for their role in gross human rights violations," he added.

“Parkash Badal has been head of the Government in the Indian State of Punjab for more than twelve years from 1997 till 2002 and from 2007 till present. During Badal’s tenure there have been several hundred cases of extrajudicial killings, police tortures and human rights violations. Not even a single police officer in charge and responsible for the extra judicial killings have been investigated or prosecuted by Badal administration. Despite overwhelming evidence available against Sumedh Saini for his role in torture and extrajudicial killings of Sikhs inPunjab, Badal Government has promoted Saini ... instead of prosecuting him for his crimes," the court claim alleges.