As far as political scandals go, this will never rank with Watergate, let alone the B.C. Liberals' ongoing dance with the fossil-fuel sector.

But Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan still finds life as a federal politician can be the pits.

Especially when someone sticks a video camera in your face after eating some cherries.

The Liberal cabinet minister and Vancouver South MP was caught tossing his cherry pits on the pavement by a merchant in Osoyoos, who started shouting at him in Punjabi.

Now, there's a video on YouTube and the story has made it into the Hindustan Times, which is one of India's biggest newspapers.

Earlier this year, the chief minister of Punjab declared with no evidence that Sajjan supported a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan.

That led one commenter on the YouTubepage to suggest that the cherry-pit scandal was all "black propaganda by an indian opposition party who got black listed by the canadian government to stop campaigning in the country".

The incident occurred at the East Indian Meat Shop, which is owned by Harbinder Singh Gill.

The video posted on YouTube accuses Sajjan of littering. But is it fair to describe cherry pits as "litter"?

In fact, they are biodegradable—after a few years in a compost bin.

They also contain a cynogenic glucoside called amydgalin, which releases cyanide when metabolized in the body.

"A typical person's digestive system can break down cyanide from plants into safe compounds when digested in small quantities," the Livestrong site states. "Swallowing a single cherry pit is therefore unlikely to cause you harm. Ingesting large amounts of cyanide, however, may result in symptoms like headaches, dizziness, vomiting and anxiety."

Perhaps by disposing of the pits on the pavement, Sajjan was just trying to protect his kids.

Here's a rough transation of what the two said in their encounter in the video above:

Shopkeeper: Hello?

Shopkeeper: Who are you?

Shopkeeper: What are you doing?

Sajjan: Sorry.

Shopkeeper: No, not sorry, I know you are a big officer. I am recording all of this. Who made you such a big officer? Do you see all this? What should I throw in front of your house?

Sajjan: Brother, it’s like, I was…

Shopkeeper: No, no, you are like this. You are an educated person. I am shocked. You are visiting Osoyoos, such a beautiful country (place) and what are you doing? Tell me?

Sajjan: Brother, I was just eating cherries. I was….

Shopkeeper: You are eating cherries and the pits are all on the ground. Who are his friends and well-wishers who vote for him and make him who he is? I know you. I saw you. I know who you are. If it was somebody else I would have ignored it. But being such an educated person, you are eating cherries and throwing the garbage in front of my door. You are driving a beautiful, impressive car. I am making this video and it will go far. No worries. This is their car, look at their licence plate. They are parked at East Indian Meat Shop. My shop is closed today. And he is eating cherries, this big officer and spitting the pits on the floor. Is everyone watching? Yes, dear brother? Look he’s got the cherries in the car. You could have collected the pits in the bag in your car. If you, being such an educated person, will do this what will others do? Look at this.

Sajjan: Brother, I was going to pick them up. I was waiting for you.

Shopkeeper: You waiting here is a different story. You are an educated person. I am not an idiot. You can understand. You saw the sign that the store is closed. You parked here, ate, and spat out the pits. And now are telling me you are here to buy meat.

Sajjan: Brother, I come here to eat meat.

Shopkeeper: No, you never come here. I have been here for 17 years. Spitting pits all over the floor. Well done. May you live long and flourish. This is his car. He is a minister.