Meet Canada's defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, who took on Taliban

CHANDIGARH: When Harjit Singh Sajjan was appointed Canada's defence minister on Wednesday, he became the first ever baptised Sikh outside India to get the coveted ministry. Despite the community distinguishing itself in bloody wars time and again, India itself has had only two Sikh defence ministers since Independence - Baldev Singh (1947-52) and Swaran Singh (1966-70 and 1974-7

A decorated soldier of the Canadian army with a reputation of having effectively fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, Sajjan, 42, is part of the 30-member Canadian cabinet of the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I have served in the Canadian Armed Forces for over 23 years and I look forward to continue to serve our great country, Canada," Sajjan wrote on his Facebook page soon after his appointment.

His appointment has acceptance across the political spectrum. "Although I didn't vote Liberal, I think the new PM made an excellent choice appointing the now Honourable Harjit Sajjan to Minister of National Defense. Congratulations! I am a proud veteran (29 years) myself," Canadian national and war veteran Ken Sandall said in an FB post.

Outgoing minister Tim Uppal of the Conservative party congratulated Sajjan and another Canadian-Sikh Navdeep Singh Bains on being inducted into the cabinet. "Partisan politics aside its good to see friends @NavdeepSBains and @HarjitSajjan in the new cabinet," he tweeted.

India-born Sajjan hails from Bambeli village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district. His parents had moved to Canada when he was five. A lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Army, Sajjan was deployed overseas in strife-torn areas four times, including in Bosnia and thrice in Kandahar province of Afghanistan. He got numerous recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban's influence in Kandahar. He is also a recipient of the Order of Military Merit - one of the highest military honours in Canada.

"His approach, based on his knowledge of local culture and tribal dynamics, helped senior management to engage with influential Afghan tribal leaders, and led to the identification of insurgent command and control connection points," says the citation on the Canadian governor general's website, reported the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Before joining the Army, Sajjan was an officer with the Vancouver police department for 11 years. He also served as an aide-de-camp to the lieutenant governor of British Columbia.

'We expected Sajjan would be made a minister'

Ever since the build-up to the Canada elections picked up pace last month, there was also lot of buzz in Bambeli - new Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan's native village in Hoshiarpur district. His cousin Bachittar Singh, who stays in Bambeli, said flex banners were put up in the village after Sajjan got elected to the Canadian parliament.

"We were sure he would win the elections," Bachittar told TOI over the phone. "While it was expected that he would be made a minister, we never thought he would get the defence portfolio. I couldn't speak to him since he was busy with the induction ceremony, but I called up to send my wishes to other family members." Bambeli is about 125km from Chandigarh.

He said his uncle Kundan Singh, Sajjan's father, had moved to Canada in 1972 and later took his family there in 1976. "Though Harjit has visited us a few times, he couldn't spare time after he joined the Canadian Army," said Bachittar. "His father, however, comes to India every year. He also sends us money to organize a football tournament in the village."