SFJ 'serves' notice on Amarinder for ISI remark; adviser denies it

The United States-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Thursday claimed it had served notice of a "defamation lawsuit" against Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh for allegedly linking it to Pakistan's ISI, which was, however, denied by the politician's spokesman.

Amarinder Singh had allegedly accused the human rights group of playing into the hands of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

His media adviser, Vimal Sumbly, told IANS here that no such notice had been received by the former chief minister, who is currently touring the United States.

"No such notice has been received by him (Amarinder Singh)," Sumbly said.

SFJ legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in an email from San Francisco: "While Amarinder was addressing an NRI gathering in Bay area of California, the Sikhs For Justice served on him the notice of intended defamation lawsuit under the Canadian laws for accusing the human rights group of playing into the hands of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI."

"The demand letter accompanying the notice by SFJ's Toronto-based law firm Goldblatt Partners said that the letter's purpose is to give you the opportunity to provide a prompt, unequivocal, full and fair retraction and apology within seven days from the service," the SFJ said.

Amarinder singh had, on April 24, slammed the SFJ "for playing into the hands of the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence" by filing cases against him in Canadian courts just days ahead of his visit to Canada to meet non-resident Indians.

The Congress leader had urged Canadian authorities to be wary of anti-India groups like the SFJ.

Amarinder Singh was forced to cancel his visit to the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver last month after the SFJ moved the Canadian courts accusing his government in Punjab (2002-07) of torturing people and rewarding police officers responsible for this.

"The publication of the defamatory statements has caused grave damage and injury to the Sikhs for Justice, a Canadian non-profit organization incorporated and operating pursuant to the laws of Canada," the SFJ notice said.

--IANS

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