Jagmeet Singh calls for sanctions against Indian diplomats and ban on RSS amid diplomatic row

A day after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP ) alleged that Indian diplomats were involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist, New Democratic Party ( NDP ) leader Jagmeet Singh intensified the political tension, calling for immediate sanctions on Indian officials and a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS ). Singh's demand follows a Canadian government briefing on the escalating diplomatic rift between Canada and India.

In a press conference held in Ottawa on Tuesday, Singh emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing public safety and the need for accountability. “We demand that the Liberal government implement severe sanctions on Indian diplomats and banish the RSS, a violent, militant, terrorist organization from India, which is a group that operates here in Canada and in other countries as well,” Singh stated. He stressed the importance of protecting Canadians in light of the RCMP's investigation into the alleged criminal involvement of Indian diplomats.

India, on its part, has strongly denied the accusations, asserting that Canada is harboring terrorist organizations and fueling separatist movements.

Singh, known for his pro-Khalistan stance, also called for an emergency meeting with the Public Safety Committee. “The briefing confirmed what was shared publicly... Really what it highlighted is that we've got the Indian government, specifically the Modi government, that is engaged through diplomats in Canada, criminal elements that have then gone on to shoot at Canadian homes, to shoot at Canadian businesses, to kill Canadians. That is very serious,” Singh alleged.

Addressing concerns about Canadian safety, he added, “It is our responsibility... to keep people safe and to keep our democracy safe.” Singh urged the Liberal government to take decisive steps, including banning the RSS, which he described as an extremist organization, and imposing stringent sanctions on Indian diplomats.

When asked if he felt personally targeted, Singh refocused attention on the broader implications. “It’s not about me. This is about the fact that Canadians are at serious threat and serious risk. When businesses are being shot at, anyone that lives nearby... this is a threat to all Canadians, and it should be taken with the utmost seriousness,” he said.

Singh also stressed the need for international collaboration, urging Canada to work with allies like the US and the UK to pressure India into accountability. "We need to work with the United States. There's similar scenarios that have played out in the United Kingdom. So, it's clear that we need to work with our allies to put pressure on India. But there's got to be accountability. The Indian government has to be held to account. The Modi government has to be held to account. We all need to be unified as Canadian leaders. All of us have to be united in denouncing Modi and making sure we protect Canadians and put their safety first and foremost," he said.

As the diplomatic rift deepens, Singh’s call to action puts additional pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to address the allegations, while India continues to reject any involvement in the case.