I'm surprised that the G & M did not interview Ujjal Dosanjh on this topic, since he is a committed secularist, as well as  a member of the Sikh community and faith.  He was also badly beaten up by Khalistanis in the 1980s in Vancouver for espousing a secular government in both India and the Punjab.  His stature as former attorney general and then Premier of BC would help put this issue to rest, if indeed our Defence Minister is not a supporter of Khalistan.  And while this issue may be ancient history for some, and there was violence on both sides, including by the Congress Party, the memories of the Khalistan movement are felt every day by the families who lost people from the Air India bombing, who are also Canadian citizens.  If we wish to have a secular government in Canada, then the backgrounds of our various ministers are relevant questions to ask.