Canada's Sikhs grateful to Justin Trudeau, report claims
‘Majboori thi’: EAM Jaishankar on suspending visa for Canada amid diplomatic row over Nijjar killing Canada is home to about 770,000 Sikhs, the highest population outside India's Punjab. The government of India has for decades expressed its displeasure with some community members' outspoken support for Khalistan. (Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channel. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here!) Sikhs punch above their weight in Canadian politics.
They have 15 members in the House of Commons, more than 4% of the seats, mostly from key battlegrounds in national elections, while comprising only about 2% of the Canadian population. Also read: Nijjar killing row: ‘Canada has climate of violence for…’, says Jaishankar Furthermore, one member is Jagmeet Singh, leader of the opposition New Democrats, a left-leaning party that is supporting Trudeau's minority government. Fen Hampson, professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa told Reuters that, "In political terms, this is a no-brainer: You got to get out ahead of the story and you got to express outrage".
Also read: PM Trudeau was in 'drug-induced stupor' during G20 Summit dinner, alleges former diplomat. Canada responds… Canada says Sikhs have a right to peaceful protest and there has been no evidence of violence, terrorist activity, or wrongdoing. Mukhbir Singh, a member of the Ottawa Sikh Society, said Canadian Sikhs' views on Khalistan vary and everyone should be able to express their own opinion.
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