Amarinder flays Trudeau for supporting Khalistani radicals

Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has condemned Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accusing him of allegedly encouraging Khalistani radical elements in Canada for cheap electoral gains. Singh’s strong remarks follow recent reports of vandalism at a Hindu temple in Canada, allegedly perpetrated by radical elements.

Kanishka bombing forgotten

Instead of action, the support for separatist elements has only grown. The Kanishka bombing and other incidents that threatened Punjab’s stability appear to have been forgotten.

Capt Amarinder Singh, former CM

In his statement, Amarinder Singh criticised Trudeau’s response to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a controversial separatist figure. Trudeau, in a parliamentary address, had insinuated a possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s death, though he later admitted to lack of concrete evidence. “It is not often that countries, friends for decades, should end up as have Canada and India today,” Capt said.

He called Trudeau’s approach a violation of parliamentary sanctity, where statements by a PM are typically held to a high standard of truth. He questioned whether “electoral compulsions” had overtaken Canada’s longstanding ties with India, as well as the respect for national commitments and parliamentary traditions. “For Trudeau, it seems so,” Capt added.

Recalling his tenure as Punjab CM, he explained his earlier concerns over Canada’s approach towards Sikh extremism. According to him, Canada’s soft stance towards these elements allowed such ideologies to flourish, with Trudeau allegedly supporting them to strengthen his political base.

The former CM recounted an incident involving Trudeau’s defence minister Harjit Sajjan, a Sikh who was an active member of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO), an outfit with known pro-Khalistani leanings. “I refused to meet him, as he himself was an active member of the WSO,” he said.

Amarinder recounted his encounter with Trudeau in Amritsar, which occurred after the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj insisted that Trudeau met the Punjab CM. “In Amritsar, accompanied by his Defence minister Sajjan, I informed him of Punjab’s concerns about Canada’s sheltering of Khalistani separatists, drugs and organised crime. I handed him a list of over 20 individuals active in the movement, including some who were part of his cabinet,” Amarinder said, emphasising his concerns about the destabilising impact on Punjab.

“Instead of action, the support for separatist elements has only grown. The Kanishka bombing and other incidents that threatened Punjab’s stability appear to have been forgotten,” he said.