Shillong, October 11: An immigration tribunal in Canada has ruled in favor of allowing an Indian citizen, Kamaljit Ram, who provided shelter and food to Khalistani militants in India, to enter the North American country.
As per IANS, the decision is based on the understanding that Ram’s actions were driven “mostly out of necessity” and fear of retribution.
Ram admitted to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that he had intermittently housed and fed armed Sikh militants at his Indian farm from 1982 to 1992 and expressed support for the ideas associated with the Khalistani movement, which seeks a separate Sikh state.
The CBSA contended that Ram’s involvement in sheltering militants made him ineligible for entry into Canada, as immigration laws prohibit individuals engaged in or instigating the “subversion by force of any government.”
However, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) tribunal, in a recent ruling, concluded that the federal government lacked “reasonable grounds” to bar Ram from entering Canada.
Heidi Worsfold, a member of the IRB tribunal, noted that the government’s assessment failed to consider that Ram acted out of fear of the consequences of refusing the armed individuals who sought refuge at his farm. The ruling highlighted the atmosphere of fear and distrust prevalent in the Sikh community in the 1980s, where both militant groups and the police contributed to this climate.
While acknowledging Ram’s sympathy for the idea of a Khalistan state, the tribunal emphasized that he was never a member of an armed militia. Ram supported their ideas but did not join the organization, provide financial support, or engage in activities on their behalf.
The ruling clarified that Ram’s provision of food and shelter primarily stemmed from necessity and the challenging political situation in Punjab, where tensions between Hindus and Sikhs were at their peak during the period when he hosted Khalistani militants (1982-1992).