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Canadian PM runs into same-sex debate in India
By Brian Laghi
January 19, 2005
New Delhi — Prime Minister Paul Martin was forced to defend the Canadian
government's proposal to allow same-sex marriage after a visit with Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.
In the middle of a whirlwind tour of Asia designed to strengthen economic ties
on the other side of the world, Mr. Martin found himself wading in domestic
issues.
Mr. Martin was forced to deal with remarks issued by a senior Sikh religious
leader based in India on same-sex marriage.
In a newspaper article that appeared on Monday in the Amritsar Tribune, Giani
Joginder Singh Vedanti condemned the proposed move by the federal government to
introduce a same-sex marriage bill, saying marriage between gays is a trend
that has no place in the Sikh religion.
The article followed a lively debate in the Indian press this month in which it
was speculated that Mr. Martin had cancelled a planned visit to the Golden
Temple in Amritsar because of political concerns about the controversy.
"This is a question of civil marriage, not religious marriage," Mr. Martin told
reporters on Tuesday after his visit with Mr. Singh.
"No church, no temple, no synagogue will be forced to provide a marriage in any
other way than with those [values] which are accepted by its own beliefs."
Mr. Singh, meanwhile, would not comment on what he called domestic Canadian
politics, but added that same-sex legislation "would not have, I think, wide
appreciation" in India.
But Mr. Martin told reporters he is proud of the way Canada supports the rights
of minorities.
"I believe that one of the reasons that Canada has been so successful at
bringing together people from all around the world is in fact we do understand
religious freedom, we do understand the necessity for minorities to be
protected so in fact they can pursue their own faith and they can pursue their
own way."
However, there were mixed views among the Prime Minister's own four-member Sikh
caucus.
Toronto-area MP Mr. Malhi told reporters Tuesday that he feels that he must
follow the rules set out by the senior Sikh religious leader in the newspaper
article.
"I think whatever he said, the people have to follow the...tradition."
Another Liberal MP from Toronto had the opposite view and said he supports
same-sex marriage.
Mr. Bains said it's easy for people to "point the finger at another minority,"
but that all Canadians must remember how hard they fought for Charter rights.
"I think Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and all other faiths and all other minorities
and communities that exist in Canada cannot forget how important the Charter
[of Rights] has been to us in the past and will be in the future as well," Mr.
Bains said.
Ms. Dhalla said she feels significant weight should be put on the comments made
by the Sikh leader because he is "the equivalent to the Pope, probably in the
world, so there is a signficant influence."
Mr. Dosanjh, however, said that there is room for people to have views on
same-sex marriage no matter what religion they are from.
The Amritsar Tribune newspaper cited sources to suggest that Mr. Martin was
advised against visiting Sikhism's holiest city because he would get a cool
reception from religious leaders there. Such an insult "would hit the Liberal
party hard politically because most of the Sikhs supporting it in Canada would
turn away from it, keeping in view the posture adopted by the Sikh clergy,"
wrote the newspaper.
Canadian officials flatly deny the speculation.
Mr. Dossanjh visited Amritsar last week to explain Mr. Martin's change of plans
— which revolved around his decision to tour tsunami-affected areas in Thailand
and Sri Lanka at the expense of three Indian stops outside the capital.
Bilateral issues
Mr. Martin and Mr. Singh met to review bilateral relations and agreed on
initiatives aimed at strengthening the India-Canada partnership.
Mr. Martin announced Tuesday that Canadian visa offices in India will be
expanded.
The move comes after reports by Indian government officials of increased
waiting times for individuals wanting to come to Canada.
He also said Canada would participate with India in efforts to create a tsunami
warning system, which cost the country almost 11,000 lives recently.
The two leaders agreed observe the new moves toward democracy in Afghanistan
following the elections and the ongoing unrest in Iraq leading up to elections
there.
The two leaders also said they would work closely on several bilateral issues
in the coming year including science and technology, the environment, expanding
economic ties and improving links between the two countries by expanding
consular services, strengthening co-operation in health research and "renewing
commitment to promote cultural ties in both countries."
Mr. Singh also accepted an invitation from Mr. Martin to visit Canada.
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