Former Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh, took a critical stance against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, strongly denouncing Trudeau's accusations against the Indian government concerning the death of Khalistani terrorist Harjeet Singh Nijjar. Amarinder Singh, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), characterized Trudeau's claims as unsubstantiated and highlighted that he had raised concerns about anti-India activities occurring in Canada during Trudeau's visit to India in 2018.
In addition to disputing the veracity of Trudeau's allegations, Amarinder Singh accused the Canadian Prime Minister of engaging in political posturing by making unfounded assertions against India. Trudeau had asserted that Canadian security agencies were actively investigating a "potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," who had tragically lost his life in a shooting incident in June.
The Sikh community in Canada holds significant political influence and constitutes an important segment of the voting bloc for Trudeau's Liberal Party. According to the most recent census data available for both countries, Sikhs represent approximately 1.7 per cent of India's population, whereas, in Canada, their presence stands at 2 per cent, equivalent to 770,000 individuals out of a total population of 40 million.
During Justin Trudeau's official visit to India in 2018, Amarinder Singh, who served as the Chief Minister of Punjab at that time, raised the sensitive issue of Khalistan with the Canadian Prime Minister. On that occasion, Amarinder Singh had presented Trudeau with a list containing the names of nine individuals based in Canada who were allegedly associated with terrorist activities. Trudeau acknowledged his awareness of the risks posed by violent extremism.
Furthermore, Trudeau assured Amarinder Singh that Canada did not support any separatist movements and pledged to address the concerns related to militancy. This exchange during the visit demonstrated the gravity of the Khalistan issue and underscored the commitment of both leaders to tackle security challenges effectively.
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