India-Canada diplomatic row: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wants sanctions on Indian diplomats, gets mocked by journalists

Canadian Sikh leader Jagmeet Singh, a former ally of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was ridiculed by journalists at a press conference when he called for sanctions on Indian diplomats amid the escalating diplomatic row between the two countries. He also faced tough questions from the journalists as he walked out of the press conference room while he was being mocked.

“We need to bring severe sanctions on Indian diplomats. We got the RCMP saying that Indian diplomats are hiring criminal elements to shoot at Canadians. I mean why would we do anything other than put in place severe sanctions on Indian diplomats,” Jagmeet Singh, a known Khalistani sympathiser, and the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) said.

“The Modi government has to be held accountable and we all need to be unified as Canadian leaders. All of us have to be unified in denouncing (PM Narendra) Modi, making sure we protect Canadians by putting their safety first and foremost,” he said before ending his press conference. As Jagmeet Singh was walking out of the room, there was a chatter among journalists with one of them mocking the leader, saying, “That’s not how it works,” evoking laughter.

The development came after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) claimed that Indian agents present in Canada were working with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to target pro-Khalistan elements.

Jagmeet Singh had supported Trudeau’s Liberal government for over two years before pulling the plug last month, accusing the Canadian Prime Minister of not fulfilling his promises. He has often been involved in rallies featuring Khalistani extremists, advocating for a separate Sikh state.

Earlier, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly had hinted that the Trudeau government may impose sanctions on Indian diplomats, saying “everything was on the table” amid the diplomatic rift.

The ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row took a sharp turn on Monday when New Delhi lashed out at Ottawa over its charge that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ linked to an investigation into the murder of Nijjar. India dismissed them as “preposterous imputations” and downgraded its ties with Canada.

India also said Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been evident and cited his constant support for violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats in Canada, stressing that these were done in the name of freedom of speech.

Both India and Canada recalled six of their diplomats in a tit-for-tat move as New Delhi chided Ottawa for not sharing a “shred of evidence” of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing and not doing enough to tackle separatist elements on Canadian soil.

Ties between India and Canada dived in September last year when Trudeau alleged Indian government agents’ involvement in the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil. New Delhi rejected those charges as “motivated and absurd”.

Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force and wanted by the Indian government, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey in June last year.

‘CANADIAN SIKHS STALKED BY FEAR’

Meanwhile, in a statement, Jagmeet Singh claimed that Canadian Sikhs were stalked by fear, threats and harassment from Indian diplomats and called for a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Network (RSS) in Canada.

“We support today’s (Tuesday) decision to expel India’s diplomats and we are calling on the Government of Canada yet again to put diplomat sanctions against India in place, ban the RSS in Canada, and commit to pursuing the most severe consequences for anyone found to have participated in organised criminal activity on Canadian soil,” he said.

“New Democrats are extremely worried about the information released by the RCMP commissioner today. Canadians, particularly the Sikh community in Canada, have been stalked by fear, threats, harassment and violence-including extortion, violence and electoral interference all allegedly at the hands of Indian officials,” he alleged.

He added, “Since September 2023, at least 13 people have been warned by the RCMP of grave threats against them. The safety of Canadians has not yet been assured.”

(with inputs from ANI)