NDP’s Jagmeet Singh Demands RSS Ban, India Accuses Canadian of Murder

On 15 Oct, Canadian MP and head of National Democratic Party Jagmeet Singh called for sanctions against Indian diplomats and a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which he described as a ‘violent, militant, terrorist organization’ operating in Canada. Singh cited the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Indian diplomats ‘hiring criminal elements to shoot at Canadians,’ and urged the Liberal govt. to implement severe sanctions and to hold Indian PM Narendra Modi accountable. The RCMP alleged that ‘Indian govt. agents’ are linked to the Bishnoi group known for gang and extortion activities, now murders. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, from Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), appeared on Canadian broadcaster CBC News to claim that his organization has been communicating with the Canadian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the past 2-3 years. Pannun stated that SFJ has provided detailed information to the Canadian PMO about an alleged ‘Indian spy network’ and accused Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats of providing ‘logistics and intelligence support’ in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On 16 Oct, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau testified before a Foreign Interference Inquiry, established by the govt. of Canada in September 2023 and revealed he has names of Conservative parliamentarians involved in foreign interference activities. PM Trudeau said he instructed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to warn Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to protect his party’s integrity and noted Poilievre’s refusal to undergo security briefings which leaves his party uninformed about potential threats. At the same time, India has added a Canadian Border Services Agency official, identified as Sandeep Singh Sidhu, to its list of fugitives sought for deportation. Sidhu is allegedly linked to the 2020 assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a 1990 bravery award winner for action against Khalistani militants in Panjab.