India should start issuing visas for Canadians to give a positive message for resolving crisis: Ujjal Dosanjh

Born in Jalandhar, former Attorney General and Health Minister of Canada, Ujjal Dosanjh said Canada should make its stand clear and both the countries should come forth to resolve the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row.

Solan: Former Attorney General of Canada and former Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said that Canada has to make its stand clear on 'Khalistan' issue and both India and Canada should put forth their views to resolve the ongoing crisis between the two countries.

Participating at the second day of the 12th Khushwant Singh Litfest organised in Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, Dosanjh said that a responsible government in Canada should firmly say that it does not support Khalistan. "India and Canada should put forth their views on Khalistan and aim at resolving the ongoing crisis," he said.

According to Dosanjh the governments of both the countries should reflect upon the matter and seriously consider about resolving the issues. "Canada is a country where most people have settled from outside. Even if there is a Khalistani there, he is not born in that country," he said. On asked as to who was at fault in this situation, he said he is not the competent authority to make such a comment.

"I am a Canadian citizen but India is my birthplace. In such a situation, I want the dispute between the two countries to be resolved as soon as possible because it will be better for both," he added.

Speaking about the current tension between Canada and India, Dosanjh said that everyone wants the current crisis to be resolved. The situation cannot be resolved soon because neither of the two governments seems to be working towards finding a solution, he said.

Dosanjh said that India should start issuing visas for Canada as it would issue a positive message and make it easier to resolve the dispute. The common people should not be disturbed. If any Khalistan supporter is involved in violence, efforts should be taken to ensure that they are not punished in any way.

Dosanjh was elected as an MP in Vancouver-Kensington, Canada in 1991 and served as the Premier of the State of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001. He was the first person of Indian origin to hold the highest state post. He has been one of the visible faces in provincial and federal politics in Canada.

A Liberal Party MP in the Canadian Parliament between 2004 and 2011, and Minister of Health from 2004 to 2006, he had served in the official capacity between 2006 and 2011. Politician and writer Dosanjh, born in Jalandhar, Punjab, has always been a strong and vocal critic of violence and terrorism.