Jagmeet Singh refrains from naming Khalistan activists when condemning violence

By Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh continued to walk a fine line on Monday while condemning the violence that broke out between clashing groups with opposing views on the Indian government at a Hindu place of worship in Brampton, Ont., Sunday.

During a press conference in Ottawa, Singh continued a pattern of not mentioning Khalistani activists, whose flags were seen striking worshipers, in his condemnation of Sunday’s events.

A reporter asked him about his stance on violence and comments made by Liberal MP Chandra Arya and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, to which he made sweeping statements of condemnation about violence at places of worship while taking jabs at Arya.

“Violence is just wrong. Unequivocally. The violence that we saw (on Sunday) was absolutely wrong, particularly at places of prayer,” he said. “People can protest and should be free to protest. It should not be happening where people are attending to pray or attending to find peace and to have violent clashes.”

Arya took to X following an article by the Toronto Star about the back-and-forth between parliamentarians.

“NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh refuses to acknowledge the presence of violent Khalistani extremism in Canada, despite the RCMP’s clear statement during their Thanksgiving Day press conference that the national task force is actively investigating Khalistani violent extremism, among other threats,” Arya said. “The NDP leader has zero credibility when it comes to speaking on extremism in Canada.”

He continued noting that Singh “finally acknowledged” that Khalistani terrorists were responsible for the Air India flight 182 bombing in 1985, which killed 329 people in total, including 268 Canadian citizens.