'Trudeau Turned Blind Eye On Growing Sikh Extremism In Canada': Capt Amaridner Singh

Chandigarh: Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for harming diplomatic relations with India saying he t only turned a blind eye, but also patronised growing Sikh extremism in his country for political gains. 

Sharing his views on India-Canada current relations in a letter on social media platform X, Captain Amarinder Singh said, “It's t often that countries, friends for decades, should end up as have Canada and India today. assassination of a person of extreme separatist views Hardeep Singh Nijjar, led to prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau pointing his finger, in a parliamentary statement, towards India as being responsible for this act."

"He later stated that he didn't have concrete evidence, but that fingers pointed in that direction. This itself is a violation of sanctity of parliament where a Prime ministerial statement is taken as " truth and thing but truth". Are electoral compulsions more important than decades old relationships, national commitments and old Parliamentary traditions?"

Amarinder Singh recalls when he refused to meet Trudeau in Punjab  

“For Trudeau, it seems so. 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 to which Trudeau t only turned a blind eye, but also patronized such people to enhance his political base. He sent his defense minister a Sikh, to Punjab, I refused to meet him, as he himself was an active member of World Sikh Organization, at that time parent body of Khalistani movement, which was n presided over by ne or than his far,” Amarinder Singh said.

“Some months later, Trudeau visited Punjab and refused to meet me till he was told in uncertain terms by n External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj that if he did t meet Chief Minister, he could t visit State. We met in Amritsar, He was accompanied by his Defence Minister Sajjan, I presume an attempt to get one up on me! I told him in uncertain terms of Punjab's problems with Canada. It had become a haven of Khalistani separatist movement, which Punjabi wanted, and also of gun running, drugs and gangsters. 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 se grievances. On contrary, since our meeting se nefarious activities have grown. Kanishka bombing is w out of his mind and so are or acts that continue to destabilize Punjab," Amarinder Singh added.

“Our ecomy continues to stagnate as Industry always enters when it visualizes peace and stability. On contrary today Gangsters are prevalent, weapons are freely used. Agriculture is becoming n profitable regardless of increase in States overall production, as input prices of fertilizers, oil and or essentials are becoming prohibitive, minimum support price increases marginally on an annual basis. reason is obvious!” he said.

“ purchase by FCl is meant for food security, and an affordable price that under-privileged of country can afford. If MSP goes up so does consumer price to millions of our poor. While Punjab farmer who sweats his guts out to produce what India needs, wants more for his crop, so does Union Government wants to rationalize what it must pay. India would need substantial financial resources to guarantee an MSP. Can it afford it? What n is option - Industrialisation for one, and right environment in Punjab to draw in industry,” Amarinder Singh said.

Trudeau using Punjab to sustain his government, says Amarinder Singh

“Some countries that permit a separatist movement to exist in ir jurisdiction are keeping such movements in check, but in case of Canada, a government that patronizes a terrorist or a separatist movement for political gain, is irresponsible and to a point criminal. re is a strong perception that Trudeau is using Punjabis to sustain his government, without realizing decline in his affinity with m in his own country and even in India,” ex-Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said.

“Fortunately Trudeau's Canada is singular example as of date. To turn spotlight away from himself, his severing of diplomatic ties by initially accusing our security ncies of engineering Nijjars assassination, n naming officers who he claims were responsible. He n comes to accuse our National Security Advisor and finally, he w points his finger at India's Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah .!”

“Time, y say, is a healer. In Trudeau's case time will tell next year when he goes to polls. From what one hears his luck has run out and se are his last few months. Let us hope that those media reports are true. We need better relations with Canada and one ambitious man shouldn't be able to rock a stable friendship that has existed for decades. Punjab and India as a whole could n look towards a bright and stable future,” Amarinder Singh concluded.