SFJ files defamation suit against Amarinder in Canadian court

Moga, April 17 : A “defamation law suit” has been filed against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in Canada under the Canadian laws for allegedly accusing a Sikh human rights’ advocacy group of playing into the hands of Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s national intelligence agency, which has long been accused by the Indian government of spreading terrorism in India.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a Sikh human rights advocacy group, in a “Statement of Claim” filed with Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice against Amarinder claims damages of $1 million and a permanent injunction against him from republishing or facilitating the republication of defamatory statements against the human rights group.
While confirming this, Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ, who filed the defamation suit, told The Tribune over phone that the SFJ had also announced a reward of $10,000 to anyone in Punjab who would serve the Canadian court summons to the CM.
Claiming injury to SFJ’s reputation, the complaint states, “By reason of the publication of the defamatory statements SFJ has been injured in its reputation. The defamatory statements have caused reputational damage to the SFJ’s status as a non-profit organisation and, among other things; have hindered its ability to address the ongoing issues of significance to Sikh community residing in Canada.”
Pannun further claims, “It is an open secret that Capt Amarinder had a personal grudge against him and the SFJ; therefore, he made the statements on the SFJ-ISI nexus as a retaliation to Sikh groups’ successful campaign to block him from addressing political rallies in Canada, the US and European Union countries and also an effort to hold him accountable for human rights violations during his tenure as the CM of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.