Canadian lawmakers get threats from social media accounts in India
Taking after Punjab Police’s endeavor to capture Amritpal Singh, head of Waris Punjab De (Heirs of Punjab) organization, and the capture of a huge number of his supporters final end of the week, government NDP President Jagmeet Singh posted the taking after on his Instagram profile:
“I am deeply concerned by reports that India has suspended civil liberties and imposed an internet blackout throughout the state of Punjab.
“These draconian measures are unsettling for many given their historical use to execute extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
“I am calling on [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government to immediately contact their Indian counterparts to express concern regarding the suspension of civil liberties and the safety of Canadians abroad.”
Several Canadian politicians from different parties also expressed their concern on this matter, resulting in threats from social media accounts in India.
On Tuesday, Jagmeet Singh posted a message to his Instagram profile calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government to boycott G20 events in Chandigarh and Kashmir, ban BJP officials that have made threats against minorities and elected officials from Canada and ensure the safety of Canadians abroad.
WSO President Tejinder Singh Sidhu in a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly wrote:
“We are also gravely concerned by threats made by BJP officials against Canadian MPs.
“Over the past several days, Canadian MPs from all across the political spectrum have expressed concerns about the Indian government’s crackdown in Punjab and expressed concerns for Canadians visiting the region. These MPs have universally been flooded with abusive messages from Indian accounts, including from individuals affiliated with the ruling BJP party.
“Raman Malik, a BJP spokesperson from the Indian state of Haryana wrote in reply to Deputy Conservative leader Tim Uppal’s message, “we will not spare you. We will hunt you and make you understand the true sikhi [sic.]”
“In response to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s tweet, Tajinder pal Singh Bagga, a BJP spokesperson from Delhi and a past candidate of the party, tweeted “You should come to Punjab now and become next head of Virus Punjab De.”
“This is a thinly veiled threat inferring that Mr. Singh would suffer the same fate as Amritpal Singh and his associates.