By Gurmukh Singh, IANS
Vancouver : The second failure of Canadian authorities to deport failed refugee claimant Laibar Singh, an Indian, because of fear of violence by his supporters has outraged sections of the white community.
Singh, 48, who came to Canada on a fake passport, became paralysed in 2006 and lost all appeals for refugee status. He could not be deported Dec 10 when about 2,000 Indo-Canadians didn’t let the police take him out of his van at Vancouver airport.
His supporters again thwarted another bid to deport him early Wednesday when they gathered in large numbers at the gates of the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey where Singh is being sheltered.
They started coming to the temple when they heard about the impending deportation even as the temple management passed a resolution to formally grant him `sanctuary’ to stave off deportation.
Singh’s lawyers met the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) before his intended removal at 4.30 a.m. The authorities didn’t want a repeat of what happened Dec 10 and allowed Singh to stay on.
The failure to remove Singh again has infuriated many in the white community, who expressed outrage.
They wrote to media outlets, saying that “East Indians” were holding Canada to ransom.
They said the authorities have been “outwitted” by people who are breaking Canadian laws by supporting a fugitive. They said Singh entered Canada illegally and deserves no sympathy. If allowed to stay in Canada, he will become a big burden on taxpayers.
“By letting him stay legally, Singh’s entire costs (living, health and pension) would transfer to all Canadians and all his family will be able to immigrate to Canada. Singh’s supporters should realise that not a majority, not all Canadians support Singh,” one Canadian emailed to the Vancouver Sun.
Another said: “Singh arrived in Canada under calculated false pretences, a false passport and creative lies. Now an entire community advocates flaunting the laws of this land for what? More false passports and lies?”
Singh’s supporters claim he will not get proper medical care in India.
However, a person opposed to his stay in Canada said: “What a shame these so-called protestors are bringing to the community. India has one of the best medical care in the world and inexpensive compared to the West. New Delhi houses one of the high-end medical facilities and we see and read about dozens of people going there from the US and other parts of the world to get medical care.”
Another said: “Medical care is expensive here in Canada too, but right now he is lucky because we, the Canadian taxpayers, have been paying for it. I am sure the Indian government would not do the same for one of us. I am sorry but it is time to go home to your family.”
Although the Indo-Canadians are relieved that Singh has not been deported, the authorities say his removal has only been deferred and he will be deported at a later date.
A widower, Singh has four children in Punjab. The local Indian community, which is supporting him, recently sent Rs.500,000 to his children. He is under watch by a panel of four to five Indo-Canadian doctors.