 "Khalistan issue casts shadow over India-Canada ties")
Canada seems to reignite its row with India as it once again promotes pro-Khalistani voices within the country. The Khalistani issue between India-Canada ties was brought up again after pro-Khalistani Punjabi Singer Jazzy B was invited to the British Columbia (BC) Assembly. The appearance of the singer stirred headlines after Independent MLA of the BC Assembly, Dallas Brodie, posted a video featuring British Columbia Conservative MLA Steve Kooner expressing his love for Jazzy B.
The singer’s real name is Jaswinder Singh Bains, and his invitation to the assembly was seen as Canada’s tendency to support Khalistani sympathisers due to vote bank politics. This issue was at the centre of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan during former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s time in office.
The ties remain downgraded , with currently no high commissioners at the respective missions. The latest event at the British Columbia assembly reportedly did not go well with India. Sources close to the matter told The Economic Times that the visit and its follow-up are currently being monitored by New Delhi.
The pro-Khalistani singer celebrated in Canada
In the video, the Conservative politician heaped praise on the controversial singer. “I come from a singing family myself, and Jazzy B did sing part of my dad’s song about 30 years ago. I really appreciated that. And, so I wanna just welcome Jazzy B and also Sabi Gunnar, Inderpal Moga, Chani Nattan, who I know from the community, Marco, Mander,” Kooner said in the Punjabi singer’s introduction.
Later, Brodie called out the appearance in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Today, several prominent pro-Kalistani figures were welcomed in the BC Legislature by MLAs of both the BC Conservatives and New Democratic Party (NDP). Some of those individuals have openly celebrated violent extremists and murderers in their music videos. This is an insult to our Legislature,” she wrote in the post.
In the post, she talked about NDP since, until recently, the party was led by pro-Khalistani leader Jagmeet Singh, who stepped down after losing his Burnaby Central seat during the national elections in April. NDP also lost national status as it slipped to eight seats from 24.
Meanwhile, Wyatt Claypool, senior correspondent and editor at The National Telegraph, posted an X thread condemning the public recognition and promotion of pro-Khalistani artists. “What’s with all the MLAs in the BC legislature introducing all the Khalistani rappers today? Jazzy B is a hardcore Khalistani activist who has several times called for Khalistan," he wrote.
In a different post, he shared a photo of a music video featuring Jazzy B with the image of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistan separatist leader. “Here is Jazzy B’s music video cover with the terrorist Bhindranwale on it. (The guy who called for 5,000 Hindus to be murdered)," Claypool averred.
Meanwhile, Jazzy B also posted multiple photos on Instagram from his visit to the BC Legislature. “I am deeply honoured, humbled, and grateful to have been invited to attend The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 1st Session 43rd Parliament, hosted by The Premier Hon. David Eby, K.C., Speaker of the House Hon. Raj Chouhan, and Hon. Spencer Chandra Herbert," the singer wrote in the post.