NDP urges Canada to sanction India, ban RSS amid emergency debate on foreign interference
Ottawa: During an emergency debate in the Canadian House of Commons, MPs raised serious allegations of Indian government involvement in crimes against Canadian Sikhs, prompting calls for significant actions against India. The New Democratic Party (NDP) has proposed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) be designated a terrorist organisation in Canada. Additionally, they urged for a ban on entry for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officials linked to violence and sanctions against India.
Liberal MP Ruby Sahota shared distressing accounts from constituents, highlighting threats and extortion calls from individuals connected to criminal gangs in India. “I have had constituents come to me with videos of FaceTime calls from leaders of gangs sitting in prisons in India. How does that happen?” she questioned, emphasising the need to address foreign interference.
NDP MP Heather McPherson echoed the urgency of the situation, calling for a halt to arms sales to India and sanctions against the country. Liberal MP Randeep Sarai stated that all available tools should be employed by the government, including expulsion of Indian diplomats, in light of allegations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding India's involvement in homicides and extortions.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stressed the need to pause intelligence sharing with India, citing concerns about the safety of Canadian citizens. He labelled the RSS as a “violent, extremist, right-wing organisation” that should be banned.
Hindu and Sikh Canadian MPs united in condemning the alleged actions of the Indian government, which Delhi has denied. Randeep Sarai clarified that the issue transcends religious divides, framing it as a matter of Canadians standing against the Indian government.
Political tensions were evident as parties blamed each other for the rise in foreign interference in Canada. Conservatives and NDP members criticised the Liberals for their delayed response to establishing a foreign agent registry, while the Liberals accused the Conservative leadership race of being influenced by Indian interference.
Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan highlighted the alarming rise in violent crime and extortions, attributing these trends to the Liberal government's policies. He claimed that under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, violent crime has surged significantly, exacerbating the safety concerns within Canadian communities.
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Uber, Ola partner with Bengaluru Police on safety
Bengaluru (PTI): Bengaluru City Police (BCP) on Monday said that it has, in collaboration with cab aggregator platforms Uber and Ola, implemented a technology-driven integration aimed at enhancing the safety of riders and drivers.
It would also strengthen emergency response mechanisms across the city.
As part of this initiative, emergency call facilities have been incorporated within the Uber and Ola mobile applications used for booking rides, it said.
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Through this integration, riders and drivers seeking emergency assistance can directly share real-time location data, trip details, and contact information with Bangalore City Police's 112 emergency response infrastructure from within the Uber/Ola app itself, an official release said.
Noting that this seamless flow of critical information enables quicker police access during emergencies, facilitating faster response times and potentially life-saving interventions by first responders, it said the initiative is a significant step towards leveraging technology partnerships to ensure safer urban mobility and improved public safety.
