Trudeau needs the support of pro-Khalistani Jagmeet Singh but it may cost him ties with India
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have won a second term in office by a whisker after his Liberal party lost seats in Monday’s general election, plunging from 177 to 157 seats in the House of Commons. But in a subdued role of leading a minority Government, he is scrambling for support and may have to depend on the New Democratic Party (NDP) whose leader Jagmeet Singh has emerged as a powerful Sikh voice in Canada, with his party bagging 24 crucial seats. It’s not a secret that Sikh legislators hold the balance of power for Trudeau as his outgoing Cabinet had four of them — Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger. Now, with Trudeau having to tread a thin line going forward, the Sikh influence will be deeply entrenched as Jagmeet, who has a vast following and was himself a prime ministerial contender, is ambitious.
The fact that Jagmeet is the first non-White leader of a federal political party in Canada signals a significant shift in the balance of power in a country which has a vast population of Indians, particularly Punjabis and Sikhs. While this is a big step for the diaspora, both New Delhi and NRIs in Canada are wary at the thought of having Jagmeet as the future PM because of his alleged “pro-Khalistani” leanings. As it is, India believes that Trudeau’s Government has done little to rein in Khalistani hawks on its soil. The fact that Trudeau got a lukewarm welcome during his India visit and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh went on record to brand the outgoing Defence Minister Sajjan a “Khalistan sympathiser” point to India’s unease at the growing influence of the likes of Jagmeet. On his part, Jagmeet has been a vocal critic of the Indian Government and the current situation in Kashmir, making him a pariah for New Delhi. Trudeau’s reliance on the NDP’s support could mean that he has to do a delicate tightrope walk with India. Just like US President Donald Trump wanted to be seen with his “friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi to amp up the diaspora vote, Trudeau hopes his camaraderie with Jagmeet will help steer the Sikh vote in his favour the next time. But self-preservation may cost him diplomacy.