'Khalistani sympathiser' tag hurts, but not in India for petty politics: Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh last week called Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser".

New Delhi: Responding to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's accusation that he was a "Khalistani sympathiser", Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan on Tuesday said, such comments hurt, but he had not come to India for petty politics.

Sajjan who arrived in India on Monday is on a week-long visit. He is also scheduled to visit Punjab.

"It does hurt, but not here for petty politics, my actions speak for me," the Canadian Defence Minister said when asked to comment on charges that he was a Khalistan backer.

"I don't want to be sucked into the internal politics of a province of a nation. My goal is to build relationships. I am proud of the fact that I was born here," he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh last week called Sajjan a "Khalistani sympathiser" and said he would not meet him during his expected visit to India later this month.

Speaking during a programme on a channel, the Chief Minister alleged: “Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser and so was his father.”

"There were, in fact, five ministers in the Justin Trudeau government who were Khalistani sympathisers and I will not have any truck with them," he claimed.

Amarinder's poll campaign in Canada was stalled last year in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly Elections.