Canada’s Jagmeet Singh slammed for ‘draconian’ tweet over Punjab crackdown | Latest News India

Canada’s New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh drew criticism on Twitter after raising concerns about the massive crackdown by Punjab police in the state – to arrest Khalistan-sympathizer Amritpal Singh – which led to the internet lockdown. Calling for the intervention of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadian politician of Indian origin said the “draconian measures” were worrying for many “given their historic use of carrying out extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during the Sikh genocide of 1984”. Aside from social media users telling him he openly supported a terrorist in his tweet, People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier said that the same Jagmeet didn’t care when “Trudeau repealed our civil liberties last year “. “But he cares a lot if it happens in India,” Bernier tweeted. Read | Amritpal Singh’s Close Associates Sent to Assam Prison – What CM Himanta Sarma Said | VIDEO

When Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on Waris Punjab De on Saturday, internet services were suspended for a day which was extended to Monday while the hunt was still ongoing. Police said Amritpal Singh fled when he switched vehicles and caused a decoy accident involving motorcycles. Read: Amritpal Singh Chase: A single lane link road, 6-7 motorbikes to distract police

Several Canadian politicians expressed concern and tweeted about the internet lockdown in Punjab. Randeep S. Sarai, MP of Canada, wrote: “Deeply concerned by news reports from #Punjab, India. The suspension of internet services and restricted gatherings of more than 4 people in some areas. We are following the situation closely.”

Gurratan Singh, a former member of the provincial parliament, condemned the “repression” and said the whole world was watching. “Mass arrests of Sikh activists, internet and text blocking, crackdown on public gatherings, mass censorship of human rights media. Let the Indian government know that we condemn this repression,” he tweeted.

Amid the crackdown, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said on Sunday governments should refrain from creating an “atmosphere of terror for political interests”. Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.

Police urged people to keep the peace and pay no heed to rumors and fake news, saying the law and order situation was under control.

A petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday, alleging that Amritpal is being held in illegal police custody. Police denied the claim, maintaining the version that Amritpal was elusive until Sunday. The court asked the state government to respond to the application on Tuesday.