Toronto, Canada: To highlight the Indian government unfair treatment towards Punjab, Parminder Singh along with other 5 Singhs hijacked Indian Airlines in 1984. Even after knowing India’s worst human right record, Canadian government still went ahead and deported Singh to India. Parminder Singh stayed as refuge in Canada for 15 years after serving prison term in Pakistan.
On Tuesday, 26th Jan, 46 year old Singh was escorted by Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) officials till the Toronto Airport where he finally boarded his flight to India.
Group of 6 freedom fighters headed by Singh, on July 6, 1984, hijacked a Delhi bound flight after it took off from Srinagar and took it to Lahore. The plane had 255 passengers on board. After 17 hour stand-off Singh peacefully surrendered the plane to the authorities of Pakistan. Passengers were treated fairly and said that they all of them were given proper care and Singhs were courteous and did not hurt anyone. Passengers were sympathetic with Singhs.
Singh underwent a trial in a court in Lahore and was awarded death penalty which was later reduced to life term. 10 years later he was released and asked to leave Pakistan.
After leaving Pakistan in 1995, Singh illegally entered Canada. He lived in Canada under the name of Balbir Singh and justified the act by saying he feared his deportation to India.
In Canada, even as he fought his deportation order, he earned BA and law degrees and was attached to his brother’s immigration consultancy firm Singh and Associates located in Mississauga (outskirts of Toronto).
Singh’s application to the Law Society of Upper Canada to allow him to practice law there, however, was rejected, earlier this Jan on grounds of his past criminal record and identity faux, saying he had failed to prove his character as a genuine person and hence could not be permitted to practice law. He appeared before the Law Society last year and said he regretted whatever he did in the past but deserved another chance to start afresh.
Comments
It is a great discremation,injustice and violation of human rights by deporting Sardar Parminder Singh to India by Canadian Govt.. He has remained 10 years in jail in Pakisitan. He remained 15 years in canada with good conduct and a law abididing person like other good people of canada. His whole family is in canada.Indian Govt. put him in most notorious Tihar jail in delhi.He has hijacked plane due to religious sentiments and without harming the people on plane and plane surrandered in pakisitan. Their purpose was only to protest, such types of things happened previously also.For single fault,how many times punishment should be given. I appeal to Prime Minister of India S. Manmohan Singh to intervene and free s Perminder Singh to lead a peaceful life and live with his family in Canada.