Canada: Sikh Politician calls for RSS ban, diplomatic sanctions on India amid rising tensions
Ottawa: Amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh on Monday urged the Canadian government to impose diplomatic sanctions on India and ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) network in Canada. Singh, a former ally of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, expressed deep concerns for the safety of the Sikh community in Canada and backed the expulsion of Indian diplomats.
In a statement, Singh called for decisive action, stating, “We support today’s decision to expel India’s diplomats and we’re calling on the Government of Canada to put diplomatic sanctions against India in place, ban the RSS network in Canada, and commit to pursuing severe consequences for anyone involved in organised criminal activity on Canadian soil.”
Singh's comments followed the release of a report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which highlighted growing threats, harassment, and violence faced by the Sikh community. The report outlined critical issues, including violent extremism, potential links between Indian government agents and homicides, and interference in Canada's democratic processes.
Singh also alleged that Canada has credible evidence linking Indian officials to Nijjar’s assassination. He stressed the need for accountability, emphasising that multiple individuals had been indicted by the United States for related crimes. Singh further claimed that 13 people in Canada had received warnings of serious threats to their lives since September 2023.
Nijjar, labelled a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, in June 2023.
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State will send ₹850 crore proposal to Centre for development of Malpe harbour: Min Mankal Vaidya
Udupi: The State will submit a Rs 850 crore proposal to the Union government for the overall development of the Malpe fishing harbour, Karnataka Minister Mankal S. Vaidya announced while laying the foundation stone for a Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project of the harbour under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
“If the Union government does not consider the proposal, the State government will finance the proposed project,” The Hindu quoted Vaidya, state's Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport, as saying.
Vaidya noted that Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules continue to hinder coastal development in Karnataka, preventing the implementation of projects worth Rs 2,034 crore. He stressed the need for CRZ norms in the state to be aligned with those in other states, where such regulations do not pose a barrier to coastal infrastructure and development initiatives.
Speaking at the event, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said the PMMSY has revitalised the fisheries sector, enabling the implementation of several projects that benefit fishing communities nationwide. He urged the state government to prioritise dredging of estuaries and upgrading fisheries jetties to ensure year-round navigability and the safety of fishing vessels.
The Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project will focus on enhancing sanitation and water supply at the harbour, upgrading fish handling capacity, and strengthening security at the port, The Hindu quoted fisheries and ports officials as saying.
A reliable water supply and improved handling facilities are expected to speed up auctions and vessel turnarounds, while upgraded wastewater systems will help tackle long-standing issues of odour and contamination at the harbour.
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