Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh issued a scathing criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, accusing him of prioritising political gains over diplomatic relations and turning a blind eye towards Sikh extremism. In a statement shared on X, BJP leader Amarinder Singh alleged that Trudeau had been lenient towards individuals with extremist leanings to bolster his political base.
The statement came shortly after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Canada, urging Canadian authorities to prosecute those involved.
Reflecting on their past interactions, Amarinder Singh recalled that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, he had encountered resistance from the Canadian government concerning Sikh extremism. “Some years ago when I was Chief Minister of Punjab, I was aware of Canada’s approach to Sikh extremism being prevalent in that country, which was fast growing,” Singh stated. “Trudeau not only turned a blind eye but also patronised such people to enhance his political base.”
Amarinder Singh went on to recount an incident where Trudeau, accompanied by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, visited Punjab in February 2018. He recalled how Trudeau was permitted to land in Amritsar only after agreeing to meet him. During the meeting, Amarinder Singh said he presented Trudeau with a list of 20 Canada-based individuals linked to pro-Khalistan organisations whom he accused of supporting the separatist movement.
The encounter, described as "not pleasant" by Globe and Mail, saw Canadian officials promising to review the list that had been previously shared with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
In his letter, Amarinder Singh remarked that since then, extremism had only flourished in Canada, leading to gun trafficking, drugs, and gangster activities impacting Punjab. "I handed him a list of over twenty leading individuals who were actively involved in this movement, some were also members of his cabinet, one of whom was sitting beside him. I was promised that he would look into these grievances. On the contrary, since our meeting these nefarious activities have grown. The Kanishka bombing is now out of his mind and so are the other acts that continue to destabilize Punjab. Our economy continues to stagnate as Industry always enters when it visualizes peace and stability," he stated.
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Amarinder Singh Slams Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Over Nijjar Case Allegations
Amarinder Singh also commented on Trudeau's recent allegations against India in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known Khalistani separatist, which have strained India-Canada relations. The BJP leader criticised Trudeau for attributing Nijjar’s death to Indian security agencies without concrete evidence. “Are electoral compulsions more important than decades-old relationships, national commitments, and age-old parliamentary traditions?” he questioned. “For Trudeau, it seems not.”
The former chief minister further suggested that Trudeau’s policies aimed at garnering support from the Sikh community may ultimately backfire, leading to a potential decline in support from the Indian diaspora. Singh concluded by expressing hope for improved India-Canada relations, remarking, “We need better relations with Canada/ One ambitious man shouldn’t be able to rock a stable friendship that has existed for decades.”