UK Sikh body welcomes statement
Ontario, Canada (March 26, 2012): Following the announcement in India to hang Balwant Singh Rajoana on 31 March 2012 few western politicians have issued statements condemning the death penalty in India. Jagmeet Singh who is a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Bramlea-Gore-Malton and represents the community in the Ontario legislature, has released a statement on this issue.
The statement is reproduced below:
“Many of my constituents have contacted me with their concerns regarding recent events in India.
On March 31st India will end its quasi-moratorium on the death penalty, by hanging Balwant Singh Rajoana to death.
I have always been proud of Canada’s unwavering commitment to human rights in regards to its position on the Death Penalty. Ontario’s stance echoes that of the United Nations which has called for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
The death penalty undermines the dignity of human life. Amnesty International describes the death penalty as (and I quote) “The ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the State. This cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment is done in the name of justice.”
Canada and Ontario have an international obligation to uphold their stance on human rights and support the global abolishment of the death penalty.
With a $1.3 Billion annual trade between Ontario and India, this government should demand our trading partners uphold the same humanitarian values as us Canadians. It is imperative that we urge not only India, but all nations to continue the United Nations Moratorium on the death penalty and to abolish the brutal and archaic practice of sanctioning the state to take a human being’s life.
The Sikh Federation (UK) has welcomed the statement of Jagmeet Singh the Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Bramlea-Gore-Malton who represents the community in the Ontario legislature.
TWEETS by Jagmeet Singh MPP:
Sikh Siyasat has accessed following Tweets by Jagmeet Singh MPP on his Social networking (Twitter) profile:
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“Canada should seize this opportunity to reiterate our stance on human rights & support the global abolishment of the death penalty” (March 23, 2012). “I have always been proud of Canada’s commitment to human rights. Our stance echoes that of the UN moratorium on the death penalty” (March 23, 2012). “Today, in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario I requested our govt to urge India to uphold the UN’s moratorium on the death penalty” (March 23, 2012). |